10 shocking moments in sport

Sporting arenas have not only served as theatres of dreams but have, on many an occasion, also been stages for nightmares. Incidents ranging from the grotesque to the bizarre have taken place in cricket stadia, tennis courts and boxing rings.While many such incidents make for amusing tales, there are some that are rally tragic. Many are the events that have taken place in sporting arenas that have left spectators and the sporting community across the world shocked and baffled.Let us now take a look at ten such shocking events in the history of sport.

#1 Luis Suarez\'s biting \'act\' in 2014 WC

Luis Suarez missed a total of 39 games following his biting incident with Chiellini

Although the Uruguayan striker claimed that he had merely lost his balance and tipped over Giorgio Chiellini, video footage of the 2014 World Cup match between Italy and Uruguay confirmed that Luis Suarez was indeed guilty of having bitten the Italian.

Following the incident, Suarez was handed a ban that saw him not only miss all the remaining matches in the 2014 World Cup, but a total of 39 games, including 26 games in the English Premier League. Even Chiellini dubbed the punishment 'excessively harsh' as did Digo Maradona, who, in criticising FIFA's penalty asked, 'Who did Suarez kill?'

This wasn't the first such incident to mar Suarez's career. As a striker for Liverpool in 2013, he had been accused of biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic and in 2010, playing for Ajax, he had been blamed for biting PSV's Otman Bakala.

His exemplary talent with the ball notwithstanding, Suarez's career has been riddled with controversies. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Suarez stopped a goal with his hand, which saw being criticised widely. When he took to the football field for the third place match against Germany in the same event, the crowd made its displeasure at him known by booing loudly whenever he was in possession of the ball.

#2 Monica Seles\' stabbing incident

Monica Seles was the victim of her own success. A Steffi Graf fanatic stabbed her during a tennis match in Hamburg.

There is no benign form of fanaticism and the tragic incident which almost ended Monica Seles's life bears testimony to that assertion. Seles was a mere 19 years old, when her career and life both came eerily close to the point of ending.

The incredibly talented Monica Seles, bursting into the professional tennis circuit as a vivacious teenager in the early 1990s set about rewriting the dynamics of women's tennis, taking over the domination of the sport from Martina Navaratilova and Steffi Graf. Seles had, even before she turned 19, won seven Grand Slam singles' career titles. Barring 'The Championships' at Wimbledon, where Graf still reigned supreme, Seles had conquered all.

Having ended 1992 as the World number one, which seemed to signal the power shift in women's tennis, Seles went on to beat Graf yet again in the final of the Australian Open in 1993, reaffirming her position as the best player at that juncture.

However, she had no idea of knowing that her continued domination against Graf had angered one German fan too many. During a WTA match at Hamburg in Germany, when she was playing against Magdalena Maleeva, Seles was stabbed in the back by Gunther Parche when she had her back to the crowd, when she was enjoying a break.

Parche, the assailant, claimed that he had committed the act out of his love for Graf. If the stabbing event cast a dark shadow over the game of tennis, then the trial of Parche was nothing short of a travesty. Citing psychological problems, the court handed Parche a two-year suspended sentence and allowed him to walk free.

#3 Sunil Gavaskar\'s (in)famous \'march\' of protest

Miffed with the umpire’s decision, Sunil Gavaskar walked out with opening partner Chetan Chauhan

Regardless of how the western world might look at it, the incident which saw Sunil Gavaskar march off in protest against a poor decision, along with his opening partner Chetan Chauhan remains enshrined in the memories of Indian fans.

of course, it was by no means the most sportive thing to do, but then,few things in that famous Melbourne Test in 1981 had happened in accordance with the rules of the game. India had been at the receiving end of as many as seven poor umpiring decisions and the howler that Umpire Rex Whitehead committed by judging Gavaskar LBW when he was on 70, when it was amply clear that he had nicked the ball, was the proverbial last straw.

An indignant Gavaskar refused to budge and reiterated to the umpire that he had got his bat onto the ball, but to no avail. An incensed Gavaskar then halted his trudge to the Indian dressing room midway to haul his opening partner Chetan Chauhan along with him; India now stood to forfeit the match.

But, the catastrophe was averted by then Indian manager Shahid Durani, who mollified Gavaskar and convinced him to allow the match to continue. But for Durani's wisdom, India would have lost out on an incredible opportunity to win a match on Australian soil and the series was drawn one all.

Former Australian captain bob Simpson called Gavaskar's act 'Unfortunate and indefensible'. Many years later, Gavaskar himself admitted to the error of his ways, saying that it had been a huge mistake on his part.

#4 Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield\'s ear

The ear-biting incident marked an all-time low in Mike Tyson’s professional career.

No boxer evoked starkly different reactions as did Mike Tyson. Those who followed boxing in the late 1980s were, without exception, left mesmerised by his prowess within the ring. No contemporary boxer could combine ferocity and agility as effectively as Tyson.

Similarly, the course that his life and career charted following his early successes in the ring left all, who had placed him on a pedestal, shocked and perhaps anguished, as well. In 1993, Tyson was convicted of raping Desiree Washington and sentenced to six years in prison (of which he served three). But, he hit the lowest point in his professional career in 1997.

As a challenger against the 'Undisputed Heavyweight Champion' Evander Holyfield, Tyson, miffed with his opponent, whom he accused of headbutting him several times, decided to vent his frustration by biting off Holyfield's left ear and tearing a part of his cartilage out. Bedlam broke out following the bizarre incident but strangely enough, the match was allowed to continue after Holyfield had received medical attention.

But, Tyson, in no mood to forgive, tried to attempt the same stunt when the match continued and he was subsequently disqualified.

#5 Dale Earnheardt Sr.\'s death on NASCAR track

Dale Earnheardt Sr. was the most successful stock car driver before his life was cruelly snatched away on the race track in 2001.

Being at the precipice of death is part of the thrill that the spectators vicariously derive from watching auto-sports. However, when this looming threat becomes a very real phenomenon and steals the life of an athlete, the tragedy is simply too huge to assimilate.

Dale Earnheardt Sr.'s death on the final lap of Daytona 500 in 2001 was one such incident. That he was the most successful stock car driver ever only adds to the grief that the many fans must have experienced at his death.

Earnheardt Sr. was cruising at a speed of over 180 mph, trailing behind the race leaders, when Sterling Malin's car bumped his from behind. Earnheardt Sr.'s car collided with Ken Scharder's vehicle before slamming the wall that left his car practically destroyed and him unconscious. Earnheardt Sr. died a few hours later. The cruel irony of the tale is that his son, Earnheardt Jr. finished the race second.

#6 Zinedine Zidane\'s headbutt in 2006 WC final

The headbutting incident in the 2006 briought Zidane’s illustrious career to a rather disgraceful end.

Lillian Thuram, Claude Makelele among other veterans had retired en masse from the national team leaving France completely vulnerable. Against such a backdrop, Zinidine Zidane was asked by then French National coach Raymond Domenech to return to the national side.

Zidane was reinstated as the captain and against overwhelming odds, led France to the final of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. His magical skills with the ball and not to mention the two goals that he scored en route to the final had played a vital role in guiding France to the title clash with Italy.

Zidane, with a cheeky penalty kick in the seventh minute, put France ahead before Marco Materazzi scored the equaliser for Italy. But all of Zidance's glorious feats in the World Cup were to be sidelined as he ended his football career on a rather sad note.

In what was to be the last match of a glittering career, Zidane, in the second half of the extra-time, allegedly provoked by Materazzi's racist slurs, went ballistic and struck the latter with his head. The incident turned into a huge controversy with FIFA even considering taking away the Golden Ball award from the player.

France eventually lost the match in the penalty shoot-outs 3-5. Zidane was ultimately awarded a two-match ban and 5000 Swiss Franc fine, and was allowed to keep the 'Golden Ball'.

#7 US Open 1977: Spectator shot by stray bullet

The crowd and the players were left shocked after a spectator wasshot by a stray bullet during a match in US Open 1977.

Even as an 18-year-old John McEnroe tried to get the better of his more experienced and pacy opponent Eddie Dibbs, the action shifted to the crowd during the match. A spectator had been shot by a stray bullet from a nearby apartment building at Forest Hills, New York, where the tournament was being held.

At a time when New York city was reeling under the nightmare of a massive blackout, the incident at Forest Hills cast a gloom not only on the tournament but on the entire city. Thankfully, the spectator who suffered the gun wound was rushed to a nearby hospital, where the bullet was removed and he was nursed back to safety.

Reacting to the incident, McEnroe said that he wouldn't want to play while people were being shot. The match, which resumed after a court official told the players that all was in order was won by McEnroe.

#8 Javed Miandad\'s imitation of Kiran More in 1992 World Cup

The 1992 India-Pakistan match will be most remembered for this rather unsavoury incident between Miandad and More.

There are many reasons to etch the 1992 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan indelibly in our memories. Sachin Tendulkar's flashy 54 not out, Javagal Srinath's terrific spell are amongst some of the fondest moments that Indian fans will cherish deeply. Of course, it also marked the beginning of India's unbeaten run of five World Cup wins against Pakistan. However, it is likely to remembered most for an entirely non-cricketing reason.

Heading into the 1992 World Cup in Australia, Javed Miandad was the best batsman in the world. His insatiable appetite for runs, coupled with his uncanny ability to find gaps had made him a dangerous player across both the Tests and ODI formats. And when India met Pakistan on cricket's largest stage, he was expected to rise to the occasion with the bat. Although he wasn't a thorough failure, his performance with the willow in that match left a lot to be desired for.

But, Miandad ensured that his name was inextricably entwined with the history of the encounter. After Kiran More, India's wicket-keeper during the World Cup had repeatedly leapt up in the air appealing for a run-out that wasn't, a none too pleased Miandad, known for his antics on the field, decided to pay the Indian keeper back in the same coin a few overs later.

When More clipped the bails off the stumps with Miandad well within the crease, the Pakistani legend sprung into the air in a mock-imitation of More's entreaties a few overs earlier. His actions were severely criticised, more so since Pakistan ended up losing the match by 44 runs, while Miandad himself had contributed just 40.

#9 \'Parachute Guy\' lands in the ring during Holyfield v/s Bowe C\'ship match

James Miller or ‘Fan Man’ was unconscious by the time security pulled him away from the ropes.

In a bizarre stunt that must probably have been motivated by someone's 'dare', James Miller, who came to be described as the 'Fan Man', flew a paraglider with a parachute right into the edge of the ring during the seventh round of the fight between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe.

It was the Heavyweight championship fight, and although Miller never got inside the ring, he ensured that the fight was delayed by a good 20 minutes. During his planned landing, his parachute got stuck in the headlights and by the time he landed on the ropes, chaos had already broken out.

Miller was unconscious by the time security in the stadium dragged him from the ropes.

#10 Ayrton Senna\'s Death at Marino Grand Prix in 1994

Ayrton Senna’s death saw a whole host of safety procedures being implemented in F1.

No death haunts the sport of Formula One as much as Ayrton Senna's at the Marino Grand Prix in May 1994. A three-time Formula One Champion, Senna is considered one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.

Heading into the Marino Grand Prix, Senna was the Championship leader and had been runner-up to Williams's Alain Prost in the previous season.

In 1994, Senna decided to leave McLaren and joined Williams, replacing Prost on the team. Of course, Seena's death wasn't the only one that marked a gory weekend at the Marino Grand Prix. During the first practice session, Rubens Barrichello, driving for Jordan hot a kerb and crashed into a debris fence but escaped with nothing more than a broken nose.

Simtek driver Roland Ratzenberger, though, wasn't as lucky. During the second qualifying session, Ratzenberger had paid with his life after his car lost its driving ability at 314 kmph. Senna was vleft distraught by the incident.

On race day, Senna, leading the race, left the racing line at the Tamburello Corner at 190 mph and struck the concrete barrier, when he was racing at a speed of 135 mph. Although he was able to slow down the car within the available two seconds, the impact was too devastating and the Brazilian ace breathed his last on the track, on which he had reigned.

Ratzenberger and Senna's deaths lead to a slew of changes in safety implementations in the sport. Theirs were the first deaths on F1 tracks in 12 years.