Novel, perhaps, but it may yet happen, considering Liverpool's Robbie Fowler received a FIFA commendation from Sepp Blatter for saving David Seaman from a red card with a plea for leniency after the Arsenal goalkeeper floored him in the area at Highbury three years ago.
Lomas, for one, would readily nominate him. 'I did go up to him at the time and ask what he thought he was doing, but, on reflection, Paolo's actions can only enhance the image of our sport,' he said.
'There has been a lot of talk about fair play disappearing from football but that was the ultimate example of good sportsmanship and something that has done the game as a whole a big favour.
'People may have different opinions, but there is no hard-and-fast rule for something like that. It was unique.
'Paolo had to make his mind up in a split-second and none of us blames him for what he did. Our gaffer had a point when he questioned whether other teams would have done the same to us, and you wonder how another player might have reacted. But no-one is now pointing a finger at Paolo.
'When I approached him at the time, he told me he thought their goalkeeper was seriously injured and that is fair enough. His first concern was that Gerrard might be in real trouble and you have got to take your hat off to him.
'He also said, in the dressing room afterwards, that he had no regrets about doing it. In his own mind, he feels he did exactly the right thing and you have to say, in this day and age, it makes a pleasant change for someone to think so selflessly.'
Redknapp did his best to echo Lomas' sentiment he but clearly found it something of a struggle.
'I would be lying if I said I was on my feet cheering at the time,' he said. 'The other lads are beating him up in the dressing room at the moment and I'm not sure he is going to be fit for the journey home!
'I have never seen anything like it and, let's be fair, the goalkeeper would have been treated just as quickly if Paolo had stuck the ball in the back of the net instead of catching it.'
After being taken off in agony, there was better news for Gerrard following treatment, his injury being diagnosed as a twisted knee that would not keep him out for long.
There was no such quick-fix for Steve Watson, though, who looked a picture of despair after seeing his first Everton goal snatched away, then being caught in possession for West Ham's equaliser, all in the space of nine minutes.
'When I got a clean header on Stephen Hughes' corner, I thought I had finally got off the mark for Everton,' said the former Aston Villa and Newcastle full back, who was briefly credited with the 75th-minute breakthrough. 'But it took a distinct change of direction off the top of Danny Cadamarteri's head and it is just a pity he has started growing his hair again. That touch off Danny took it in and it was his goal.
'I was far more bothered about what happened for theirs. I have already had a look at it on the video and I should have booted the ball into the stand rather than let Di Canio nick it off me. I am distraught about that.'
Watson had no complaints about the way Frederic Kanoute pounced on Di Canio's pass and rounded off an exceptional display of inventive front-running by firing past Gerrard.
'He looked some player,' he said. 'He is very difficult to mark because of the runs he makes and, once he is in his stride, he is very powerful as well as a good finisher.'
Redknapp expects to complete the £1.5million signing of Titi Camara today following further talks with the Liverpool striker.
