5 Instances When Top Footballers Lost Their Cool And Went Too Far

In football, there is the good, bad and outright ugly side of it. Fans from all over the world watch the game for various reasons.

Those who seek entertainment are drenched in the aftertaste of mouth-watering goals and assists. Others fancy the highly physical nature of the sport, especially in the Premier League. What might be deemed a red card offence in La Liga may be considered a wonderful tackle in the English top flight.

Most of all, fans associate themselves with the favourite players. These players have made a name for themselves for various reasons. This could be their genuine talent on the field of play or the ultimate dark arts of football.

In the course of recent history, there are players who had become masters of both. On one end, they scored quality goals or put on a solid defensive shift while on the other, cause total disaster to opponents.

Two of these three players are notorious for constantly getting into trouble. They have even served bans and paid fines for their offences. However, previous offences did not deter them from their old ways.

With them, one is never sure what trouble they will spark at the next turn.

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#5 Nigel De Jong's kung-fu kick vs Spain (2010 World Cup)

De-Jong made a martial arts kick at Xabi Alonso

On 11 July 2010, the then European champions Spain looked to add another title to their cabinet. Their brick wall in the World Cup final was in the shape of Netherlands.

The Oranje were a highly physical and ruthless team while the Spanish favoured stylish possession play. In this match, it was Andres Iniesta's solitary goal in the 116th minute that settled matters as Spain were crowned world champions.

However, the other major talking point was whether or not hard tackler Nigel De Jong should have been sent off for a wild kung-fu kick on Xabi Alonso.

In the first half, De Jong and Alonso contested a loose ball. The Dutch midfielder totally misjudged his attempt and sunk his full studs into Alonso's chest. This was a sure red card offence but he escaped with only a booking.

#4 Cristiano Ronaldo shoves the referee

Cristiano Ronaldo missed the start of the season due to a ban for pushing the referee

El Clasico featuring Real Madrid and Barcelona is always a cracker of a match. On top of having the best players in the world on full display, there are also some fireworks in that match.

This could be a harsh tackle, handball incidents, and even fights. This battle between two of Spain's biggest clubs has at most times a twist to the tale.

In the last decade, this fixture has been dominated by drawing comparisons between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Both legendary players have taken turns to stamp their authority in this match.

In August 2017, though, it was Ronaldo who made headlines for both the wrong and right reasons when Barcelona hosted Madrid in the traditional Spanish Super Cup at the Camp Nou.

Ronaldo had come off the bench to score a sumptuous goal as Real led 2-1 and his extravagant celebration earned him a booking. He was then booked for a second time for diving which sparked his wild reaction of pushing referee Ricardo Bengoetxea after he showed him the red card.

He was later suspended for five matches for that shove.

#3 Zinadene Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi

Marco Materazzi writhes on the pitch after a headbutt to the chest from Zinedine Zidane

One of the greatest ever players (and later coach) from France, Zinedine Zidane bowed out of his playing career in dramatic fashion. It was widely known that the 2006 FIFA World Cup would be Zidane's last football tournament.

He had guided France to the final against Italy and this was to be his last match ever as he decided to retire. In fact, Zidane had a dream final match in the opening 10 minutes when he scored a cheeky penalty to give France a 1-0 lead.

Marco Materazzi equalised for the Italians before the duo would collide once more. The match ended 1-1 in normal time and required extra time to settle it.

In the 110th minute of the match, Materazzi appeared to have said something to Zidane which infuriated him. The French superstar retaliated by turning around and head-butting the Italian defender on his chest which sent him sprawling to the ground.

Zidane was subsequently sent off as the Italians went on to seal the title with a 5-3 win on penalties.

#2 Luis Suarez's repetitive biting

Luis Suarez was banned for months after biting Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup

Barcelona star Luis Suarez is never short of controversy. He has had a stellar career at club level and scored over 400 goals in all competitions.

He is a perfect example of a typical centre-forward who is lethal in front of goal. However, Suarez has in the course of his football career courted controversy through the rare dark art of biting.

He has had three major biting incidents that landed him in hot soup. First, he was found guilty of biting Otman Bakkal in 2010 while playing for Ajax. As a result, he was suspended for nine matches by the league disciplinary body.

In April 2013, he was involved in another biting incident when he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. He was suspended for 10 matches as a result and also fined.

In the 2014 World Cup, he bit Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's group match against Italy. Consequently, he was suspended for four months.

#1 Sergio Ramos' penchant for red cards

No other player in top-flight football has received more red cards than Ramos

Sergio Ramos has for the last decade been the ultimate bad boy of football. He is currently the most red carded player in the active roster of major European leagues.

He has also been yellow carded over 150 times in his career. Most of these have come from sinister challenges and basically applying various forms of the dark arts into his game.

It almost became commonplace for Ramos to receive a booking in a match. Not to take anything away from the central defender but he is still one of the most lethal defenders of all time with over 80 goals for both club and country.

In November 2010, Ramos was sent off in the 5-0 El Clasico loss to Barcelona for a wild kick at Lionel Messi. If that was not enough, he grabbed national teammate Carlos Puyol by the face and pushed him to the ground.

Ramos also took out his frustration on Xavi by shoving him aside. All in all, a frustrating day at the office for the Spaniard.