10 Biggest Champions League Scandals

10 Biggest Champions League Scandals

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re examining our picks for the most shocking controversies on and off the pitch that have rocked the Champions League since its rebranding in the 1992/93 season. We’ll explore what happened in European club football’s biggest competition and the aftermath.

Ronaldo's Double Trouble (2017)

At the time of writing, Cristiano Ronaldo is still the Champions League’s top goalscorer with 140. One of his greatest striking feats was a hat-trick against Bayern Munich for Real Madrid in the second leg of the quarter-final in 2017. Well, at least on paper. Two of his goals shouldn’t have counted. In the days before VAR was in the competition, CR7’s second finish in extra time was well offside. Then, the third that sealed his hat-trick also appeared to be offside. Throw in Arturo Vidal’s controversial sending-off, and Bayern fans were livid. The result gave Madrid a 6-3 win on aggregate, and they went on to win the competition.

Fergie's Rage (2013)

In a perfect world, in his final season as a manager, Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson would’ve won the Champions League in 2013. However, it wasn’t to be. In the round of 16, United took on Real Madrid. After drawing 1-all in the first leg, United were 1-up in the return fixture. But then, Nani was sent off for booting Alvaro Arbeloa in the side of his body. The decision split fans. Some thought it was harsh since Nani was focusing on the ball. Others believe it was dangerous and justified. Regardless, down to 10 players, United lost 2-1 and were knocked out. Fergie was so angry he refused to attend the post-match press conference, earning himself a £8,500 fine.

The Abandoned Milan Derby (2005)

In football's history, the photograph of Inter Milan’s Marco Materazzi leaning on AC Milan’s Rui Costa as they watch flares blazing is one of the most iconic. In 2005’s quarter-final second leg, AC were in control. They had beaten their city rivals 2-nil in the first leg and were leading 1-nil. But then, after Inter had a goal disallowed, furious Inter fans lobbed flares onto the pitch - one of which struck AC’s goalkeeper Dida. The chaos caused the match to be abandoned. In the aftermath, AC were awarded a 3-nil win, taking them through to the next round. Inter were fined £132,000 and had to play their next four European games without spectators.

Anders Frisk's Sudden Retirement (2005)

After a fan threw a coin at Swedish referee Anders Frisk during a game between Roma and Dynamo Kyiv, drawing blood, his 2004/05 season couldn't get any worse, right? In the round of 16, Barcelona took on Chelsea in the first leg. During it, Chelsea’s Didier Drogba received two yellows, getting him sent off as Barcelona won 2-1. Chelsea manager José Mourinho claimed that Frisk spoke to his Barcelona counterpart, Frank Rijkaard, at half-time, stirring claims of a conspiracy. Chelsea fans sent violent threats to Frisk and his family, and within weeks, the referee retired from the sport. Drogba publicly apologized to Frisk, while Mourinho was banned for the next round and fined around £9,000. Chelsea was also fined £33,300

The Buffon Blow Up (2018)

Gianluigi Buffon is arguably the greatest ‘keeper to put on gloves. But in 2018, he dented his stellar reputation. During the second leg of the quarter-final between Juventus and Real Madrid, the Italians were 3-nil up, leveling the tie on aggregate. Then, in the dying minutes, Lucas Vázquez was brought down in the box by Medhi Benatia. When referee Michael Oliver awarded a penalty to Madrid, Juventus players exploded in rage. Led by Buffon, the group accosted Oliver. The abuse was so bad that the legendary goalkeeper was shown a red card. Madrid scored the resulting penalty and went through. Afterward, Buffon insulted Oliver publicly. Fans got a hold of Oliver’s wife’s phone number and death threats poured in. Buffon was slapped with a three-match ban.

The Alleged Doping Final (1996)

After securing the Champions League the year before, a star-studded Ajax side hoped to win again by beating Juventus in the 1996 final. However, after the score finished 1-all, the Italian side won on penalties. In 1998, then-Roma manager Zdenek Zeman publicly stated football needed to “get out of the pharmacy” and pointed the finger at Juventus, which led to an investigation. In 2004, Juventus’s club doctor, Riccardo Agricola, was given a suspended sentence for doping players between 1994 and 1998. While he successfully appealed the decision in 2005 - and was rehired by the club in 2017 - the scandal has tainted the final and Juventus’s reputation ever since.

The Harshest Second Yellow (2011)

Having beaten Barcelona in the first leg of 2011’s round of 16, Arsenal looked to be in the driver’s seat for the return match. With the score locked at 1-all, in the 56th minute, Arsenal’s Robin van Persie was through on goal. However, the referee, Massimo Busacca, blew his whistle for offside. Seemingly unable to hear it, Van Persie took a shot before seeing the assistant’s flag up. Shockingly, Busacca held up a yellow card to Van Persie for time-wasting. Since it was his second, the Dutch striker was sent off. With a player advantage, Barça took control and won the game 3-1. Van Persie and manager Arsène Wenger heavily criticized the decision during their post-match interviews.

Chelsea's Cold Shoulder (2009)

In 2009, after drawing 1-1 against Barcelona in the semi-final, Chelsea was knocked out on away goals, denying them a chance at redemption against Manchester United from the year before. Yet, as the final whistle went, carnage erupted. Chelsea believed referee Tom Henning Øvrebø had not given them several penalties they rightfully deserved. Drogba had to be pulled away by others as he cursed repeatedly at the ref and cameras. Due to fears for his safety, the police escorted Øvrebø from the stadium. He then received threats on his life as his address was placed online. Afterward, Drogba was suspended for three European matches, teammate José Bosingwa for two, and the club was fined around £85,000. Øvrebø later admitted his faults in the game.

Garcia's Ghost Goal (2005)

In 2005, the Champions League had a mouth-watering semi-final as English sides Liverpool and Chelsea faced off. After the first leg ended in a goalless draw, it was all to play for in the return fixture. Shortly after kick-off, Liverpool’s Luis García took advantage of a penalty box scramble to knock the ball towards the goal. Then, it gets confusing. Some think William Gallas stopped it from crossing the line, while others believe it went over. The referee went with the latter and awarded the goal. Liverpool managed to hold off Chelsea and progress to the final. Since it was years before goal-line technology was implemented, pundits and fans analyzed the goal intently. Yet, there are still contradicting beliefs on whether it should’ve stood.

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

European Super League (2021)
Elite European Clubs Attempted to Create a Rival to UEFA, Only for Fan Backlash to Destroy It

Chaos in the Stadium (2022)
Poor Safety & Aggressive Police & Fans Caused Hundreds of Spectator Injuries in the Final

Celtic Losing Yet Progressing (2014)
An Ineligible Legia Warsaw Player Caused the Scots to Progress Despite A Heavy Loss

The Belgium Fix (2024)
Genk & Westerlo Seemingly Fixed a Draw to Secure a Possible Champions League Place

The Misery of Marseille (1993)

With the European Cup being rebranded as the Champions League, UEFA was probably hoping for a smooth transition. Instead, it was anything but. In 1993, Marseille beat AC Milan 1-nil to lift the trophy. Yet shortly after, on top of doping allegations, the side was accused of bribery. Before the final, Marseille faced Valenciennes in the French Division 1. Marseille’s Jean-Jacques Eydelie contacted several Valenciennes players to bribe them to take it easy so their side would be fresh for the final. However, Jacques Glassmann rejected it and blew the whistle on the scandal. While Marseille kept the Champions League win, they were stripped of the league title and relegated. Then-club president Bernard Tapie and Eydelie received prison sentences for their roles.

Who scored the greatest Champions League goal? Zidane’s volley against Leverkusen? Bale’s overhead strike against Liverpool? Ronaldo’s long-range drive against Porto? Or something else? Let us know below!