The history of the FIFA World Cup is dotted with some massive controversies. Let's look at some of them.
The history of the FIFA World Cup is dotted with some massive controversies. Let's look at some of them:
This was the most infamous goal in World Cup history, scored in the quarter-final of World Cup 1986 when Argentina faced England.
This happened in the final of World Cup 2006 when France faced Italy. With the match at the knife's edge and heading towards penalties, Materazzi instigated Zidane, who reacted by headbutting him.
Uruguay was in their final group game against Italy. With just 10 minutes of the game remaining, Suárez and Giorgio Chiellini were tussling inside the box when the former bit Chiellini's on the shoulder.
This is probably one of the reasons why VAR has become necessary. Hurst hit the crossbar and the ball bounced downwards and out of the goal. The goal was given much to West Germany's chagrin.
FIFA banned Diego Maradona from all competitions for 15 months after he was caught using a banned stimulant, ephedrine, during World Cup 1994 in the US. The ban effectively ending his career.
Algeria, playing their first World Cup in 1982 shocked the world by beating favourites West Germany. A 1-0 win for West Germany against Austria wo d have taken both the teams to the next level. After West Germany took the lead against Austria, both teams played out a dull match and neither looked eager to score. Algeria complained to FIFA but the damage was done.
English referee Graham Poll is one of the few who were sent home from a World Cup. In the match between Australia and Croatia, he committed a massive blunder when he booked Josip Simunic three times, before sending him off.
Italian dictator Benito Mussollini wanted to use the 1938 World Cup in France as an opportunity to further his cause of fascism. In the quarter-final against France, they came down to play in black shirts, the uniform of the then Italian fascist paramilitary.
Colombia's Andres Escobar scored an own goal against the US in the 1994 World Cup, but little did he know that he had brought death upon himself. Colombia lost the match and eventually went out of the World Cup. After returning from the US, Escobar was shot dead. The killer shouted 'Gol' once for each time the commentator said it during broadcast.
Russian referee Valentin Ivanov handed out a World Cup record 16 yellow cards and including a pair of reds to both Netherlands and Portugal in a Round of 16 clash at World Cup 2006. The number of fouls committed in this match was ridiculous.
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