Top 10 World Cup Controversies

Top 10 World Cup Controversies

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 World Cup Controversies.

For this list, we’ll be looking at scandals involving the football-slash-soccer FIFA world cup since its inception in 1930. We’ll only be exploring incidents around the main tournament, not during qualifications.

Which nation do you think will win the 2022 world cup in Qatar? Let us know below!

#10: The Battle of Santiago

On paper, this should have been a pretty standard match in Group 2 during the 1962 tournament. But thanks to the drama going on behind the scenes with Italian journalists stirring the pot by criticizing Chile’s capital, Santiago, tempers boiled over on the pitch. Even BBC broadcaster David Coleman introduced the game’s highlights by describing it as the most “disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football.” Within twelve seconds after kick-off, there was already a foul. From there, Italy had two players sent off, with one being escorted off the pitch by the police. The ref could have issued more red cards as players punched each other, with one even getting a broken nose. The 2-0 win for Chile was vastly overshadowed by the violence.

#9: The Disgrace of Gijón

In another Group 2 match, this time in 1982, the final game of the group was a battle between West Germany and Austria. However, going into the match, if West Germany won by one or two goals, they and Austria would qualify for the knockout round since Algeria and Chile faced each other the day before. In the end, West Germany came with a 1-0 win that included a barrage of accusations that the two nations fixed the match. After the lone goal was scored, West Germany passed the ball around amongst themselves, with Austria barely putting in any effort. FIFA conducted an investigation but found no rules were broken by the teams. This incident made sure that feature final group games were played at the same time.

#8: French Discontent

With emotions running high in 2010, the French team completely imploded during the tournament. They were expected to pass through Group A with no real problems. Instead, they finished last. In the process of losing to Mexico, at half-time, manager Raymond Domenech clashed with Nicolas Anelka, causing the striker to be sent home. His outraged teammates went on strike and refused to train. This drama resulted in international bans for Anelka, captain Patrice Evra, and the dismissal of Domenech. (Xref) But it’s not the only time Les Bleus have let down their fans on the biggest stage. In the 2006 final against Italy, legendary figure Zinedine Zidane lost his temper and headbutted Marco Materazzi in the chest. The Italians ended up winning the game.

#7: Bossing a Match

In1982, Kuwait made it to the world cup for the first time! While fans were ecstatic about this achievement, the Kuwait FA president and prince of the nation, Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, had other ideas. During the Group 4 clash with France, a whistle was blown in the stands, causing the Kuwait team to stop. Well, France continued playing and scored. As Kuwait's players protested, Fahad stormed onto the pitch to argue with the referee. Fahad reportedly threatened to make the team walk out. For some bizarre reason, the goal was disallowed. Now, you’re probably expecting an epic Kuwait comeback. But no. France scored again, and the match ended 4-1.

#6: Saluting Scandal

Looking back at the 1938 world cup, a tournament featuring Italy and Germany, countries that were both led by fascist regimes, one would expect that things would be really tense. And team Italy made sure of that. In one instance, as the country’s players lined up to face Norway before a match, the team lifted their arm and did the infamous grim Roman salute. In the quarter-finals, Italy faced France. However, with both teams wearing blue, the Azzurri had to switch to their away kit, which was usually white, but instead wore an all-black kit, a color closely associated with Benito Mussolini’s ideology. While the crowd regularly showed their displeasure, that didn’t stop Italy from winning the world cup that year much to the discomfort of many.

#5: Trophy Stolen

Before it was the world cup trophy, it was the Jules Rimet Trophy, named after one of the people that helped create the tournament. In 1966, months before the competition got underway in England, the famous trophy was stolen from its public exhibition. The thieves then demanded a ransom for its return from the FA. Instead, they called the cops. However, despite apprehending a suspect, the famous trophy was still missing. Then, one day, a man named David Corbett was walking his dog, Pickles. The pup soon discovered a package that contained the cup. While Corbett got a hefty monetary reward, Pickles received a lot of media attention and even appeared in films. Good boy.

#4: South Korea Allegations

For the first time in world cup history, in 2002, there were two hosting nations, Japan and South Korea. But sadly, rather than be remembered for this historic event, South Korea was engulfed by a scandal. When facing Italy, something strange seemed to be happening. The referee, Byron Moreno, was making decisions to seemingly favor South Korea, such as disallowing goals and booking Italians. In the end, South Korea won the match. In the next round, similar incidents of dodgy calls happened in the win against Spain by ref Gamal Al-Ghandour. Afterward, Moreno was suspended and later dropped by FIFA, while Al-Ghandour was tainted with allegations that he received a car from then fifa VP Chung Mong-joon, who is South Korean, for his work.

#3: Hand of God

If you were to ask any England fan what the biggest scandal their national team faced was, after a few angry grunts and tears, they would mention this moment. In 1986, Argentina took on the Brits in the quarter-finals. In the second half, with the score still goalless, a botched clearance by Steve Hodge caused the ball to fly toward the England goal. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton ran to get it, only to be beaten to the ball by the much smaller Diego Maradona. Even though the goal was allowed, replays showed the Argentine legend had punched the ball. This event even threatened to outshine the magic of Maradona when he scored “the goal of the century” during the same match.

#2: Senseless Slaying

Before the 1994 tournament, there were allegations that something seedy was happening with the Colombian team. Cartels and syndicates were apparently threatening the team to perform well. When the tournament got underway, Colombia lost all three of their group matches and was eliminated. Afterwards, 27-year-old defender Andrés Escobar was assassinated in Colombia. Believed to be revenge for scoring an own goal in the match against the US, Humberto Castro Muñoz, a cartel member, was arrested for the murder. He was originally sentenced to 43 years in prison but was released for “good behavior” in 2005.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Qatar’s Human Rights
With Allegations of Slavery and Poor Human Rights, the Tournament Has Been Shadowed in Controversy Since the Host Nation Was Announced

Teething Problems
After Biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, Uruguay’s Luis Suárez Received Record-Breaking Bans From the Sport

#1: Over the Line?

Even all these years later, no world cup final has left a mark as much as this one. In 1966, the globe watched as West Germany faced first-time hosts England. With the score 2-2 at the end of ninety minutes, the match went into extra time. In the 101st minute, England’s Geoff Hurst fired a shot that thundered against the bar and bounced off the goal line. Immediately, the referee was unsure whether it had crossed the line. After conversing with the very adamant assistant ref, the goal was controversially given. Looking back, it seems like the whole ball didn’t cross the line. Just before the game was over, Hurst completed his hat trick, securing the trophy for England by winning 4-2.