The FIFA World cup, undoubtedly the most prominent and grandest event in the world, takes place every four years. It includes pride, honor, reverence, and agony for a country with many unforgettable moments and incidents. Players sometimes do controversial acts and cheat intentionally or unintentionally to bring glory to the country. With this, let’s have a look at some controversies to rock World Cups of bygone years.
- Hand of God
There was no escaping when it was about making headlines for the Argentine magician Diago Maradona. He left a lasting impression on the World Cup like no other else. It was the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup between Argentina and England. Second-half running with no goal scored by each side. Argentina was pressing the ball around the penalty box of England. England player Steve Hodge tried to clear the ball, which later became a curse for them. The ball was in the air expecting to be caught by the goalkeeper. But Maradona suddenly came into the action and somehow managed to head the ball and ended up with a goal. At first glance, it seemed that Maradona headed the ball, but later reply showed that there was a touch of Maradona’s hand. The main referee and even the linesman missed the handball. As there was no VAR system at that time, the result stood for Argentina 1 and England 0. The goal is still one of the iconic as well as a controversial events in the history of football. Its legacy is so immense that after 36 years, the ball of Hand of God was sold for 2.4$ million.
- Andre Escobar Murdered
What is the worst thing that can happen in World Cup history? Cheating, career-ending tackles, controversial decisions, etc. But what about murdering someone just for an unintentional mistake?
The most horrifying tale in football history is the murder of Colombian superstar Escobar. It was the 1994 group stage of the world cup between the USA and Colombia. As if it were a nightmare, the match could not have started any worse for the Colombians. Escobar’s own goal against the USA during the 1994 FIFA world cup eliminated Colombia from the group stage. Even though there was a backlash in Colombia, Escober decided to return to his country, saying, “I must show my face to my people.” Five days after the elimination, Escobar went to a nightclub with his friends, where he was murdered in his car. He was shot six times, and each time the killer shouted ‘Goal.’
- Battle of Santiago
Seeing the word battle while we are talking about football seems a little bit weird, Right?
A football World Cup match in 1962 between Chile and Italy in Santiago. It got named “The Battle of Santiago” because of exacerbated violence in the game. “The match is universally agreed by observers as the ugliest, most vicious and disgraceful in soccer history,” wrote Frank McGhee in the Mirror. The match was heated by a previous incident. Two Italian journalists had mocked and written about Santiago: “the phones don’t work, taxis are as rare as faithful husbands, a cable to Europe costs an arm and a leg and a letter takes five days to turn up.”
However, the first foul was committed within 12 seconds of the game. There was so much violence that the police had to intervene three times. Two Italians were sent off, and many got yellow cards for breaking the rules. Giorgio Ferrini made a clear foul aiming at kicking Honorino Landa and was sent off immediately. The police had to drag him off the pitch after he refused to leave. Players were engaged in scuffling, punching, and spitting throughout the match. However, Chile ended the thing with a 2-0 win over Italy.
- Zidane’s Headbutt
The French talisman had a chance to be considered the best player of all time and cross Pele and Maradona. As he had already won the World Cup in 1998 with his individual flames, all eyes were on him at the 2006 World Cup. With no exception, French reached the final, with Zidane scoring a clinching goal against Spain and setting up a clinical performance against Brazil. The whole world was expecting a fairytale ending to Zidane’s career. Despite being the hero in getting French to the final, Zidane became a villain for his brutal headbutt on Italian player Marco Materazzi. And Zidane’s career ended with being sent off in the world cup final. Zidane paid the price and so did his country, as Italy won the final on penalties.
- Schumacher attacks on Battinson
One of the most gruesome, as well as the most unfair referring decision had ever been made in football history. During the 1982 World Cup semifinals between West Germany and France, French substitute Patrick Battinson tried to chase down a lob pass from Michel Platini. German goalkeeper Schumacher approached to clear the ball with a violent leap. He twisted his body and hit the Frenchman’s face with full force, leaving Battinson unconscious and losing two teeth. Later, Battinson suffered a coma with broken ribs. To add insult to injury, the dutch referee ruled out the foul and ruled it as a goal kick. As a result, the French didn’t get a clear penalty and lost the match. After the match, Schumacher said, “So much hatred I had never felt before”.
Writer
Md Abu Jayed
Intern
Content Writing Department
YSSE