The 2014 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner and fans all around the world will be looking forward to the carnival at Brazil. The 2014 FIFA World Cup though had some shadow cast over it due to many reasons including the delay in stadium preparations to protests from the people of Brazil for hosting the tournament when the economic situation in the country is at a low.But here we look at some of the most controversial on field incidents during the previous editions of the tournament. We have had the infamous Frank Lampards disallowed goal, Simeone getting Beckham sent off, Theirry Henrys handball goal which took the French to the tournament in 2010 and many more. But do these incidents crack our Top 10?
#10 Peru helps Argentina knock out Brazil (Peru vs Argentina, 1978)
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Back in 1978, the second round consisted of two groups of four teams each and the winner of each group advanced to the World Cup final. Today the final games of each group are played at the same time, but that was not the case then. Argentina knew that they had to beat Peru by at least 4 goals to top the group ahead of Brazil and reach the final.
At half time the score was 2-0 in favour of the Argentinians, but what happened in the second half was shocking. Argentina put another 4 goals past the Peru goal keeper (who was born in Argentina). Rumors spread that Peru had been bribed to let Argentina win, though nothing was ever proven. This knocked Brazil out of the tournament and the Argentinians went on to win the World Cup.
#9 Schumacher attacks Battiston (1982) France v West Germany
In the semifinal of the 1982 World Cup, West Germany were in the second half of the semifinal against France, where substitute Patrick Battiston went into the box to chase down a lose ball, but his life was about to change forever.
West German keeper Harald Schumacher went in and twisted his body with his back facing forward, forcing Battiston to the ground, as Battiston suffered damaged vertebrae and lost two teeth in the collision and it appeared as if he nearly lost his life.
And to add insult to injury, Dutch referee Charles Corver ruled the play to be a goal kick, not a penalty (which clearly should have been the call) and Schumacher made the final save on a penalty to get West Germany onto the finals, where they lost 3-1 to Italy.
#8 Josip Simunics 3 Yellow Cards (2006)
Josip Simunic is a very controversial figure in the footballing world. He has been banned from participating in this years edition. He was accused of having Neo Nazi sympathies having directed the crowd in a chant following the 2-0 win against Iceland in the play-off match.
Simunic though took center stage for a different incident in 2006. He was sent off during Croatias final match of the 2006 World Cup against Australia. Simunic picked up a yellow card in the 61st minute of the match. The referee Graham Poll took out a yellow for his tackle in the 90th minute, but did not send him off. At the end of the game Simunic had an argument with Poll and became the first recipient of the third yellow, which was followed by a red card. Poll retired from international refereeing shortly after the World Cup.
#7 Italy stands up for fascism (1938)
This was the final World Cup before World War 2 and the defending champions Italy were playing France in the quarter final. Since France wore blue kits the Italians were forced to wear their white kit. But on Mussolinis orders the team took the field in black shirts (the Maglia Nera), a symbol of the feared and despised Italian fascist paramilitary. The Italians also did their fascist salute and went on to beat the French and then hold the World Cup for the next 12 years.
#6 Battle of Nuremberg Portugal versus Netherlands (2006)
In this round of 16 match, things got a bit out of control. But the Russian referee Valentin Ivanov was forced to hand out a FIFA tournament record of 4 red cards and 16 yellow cards during the game.
It started with Van Basten getting a yellow in the second minute of the game and hell broke loose from there on. Portugal won the game courtesy of a 23rd minute goal by Maniche. Portugal legend Luis Figo controversially received only a yellow card for a head butt which worsened the situaion. Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouzs tackle on Cristiano Rolando injured the star wing man and eventually forced him to be substituted off before half time.
Both teams received two red cards each. Portuguese players Costinha and Deco were sent off while for the Dutch, Khalid Boulahrouz and Giovanni van Bronckhorst were dismissed.
#5 Battle of Santiago Chile vs Italy (1962)
This was a group 2 clash. The first foul was committed just 12 seconds into the match and Honorino Landa was sent off in the 12th minute and had to be escorted off by the police after refusing to leave the pitch.
Throughout the match, there were many different incidents that happened such as Chile's Leonel Sanchez punch to Italian Mario David (for which Sanchez was not sent off), but David was sent off several minutes later after kicking Sanchez in the head.
Later on, Sanchez broke Humberto Maschio's nose with a left hook and police had to intervene three more times to break up the numerous scuffles during the match.
Chile won the match 2-0 on goals from Jaime Ramrez and Jorge Toro in what is the most infamous match in World Cup history.
#4 Referees help South Korea (2002)
Back in 2002, when the tournament was hosted for the first time on Asian soil, the tournaments co-host South Korea shocked the world by reaching the semi-final of the tournament, but their achievement was overshadowed by some of the shocking decisions made by the referees during their knock out stage fixtures.
Korea made history by progressing to the knock out stages for the first time. In the round of 16, the Koreans caused a huge upset by knocking the Italians out thanks to some help Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno. Moreno disallowed a perfectly fine Italian goal during offside by whistling it offside and controversially sending off Francesco Totti for diving. Korea then went on to win the game on a golden goal scored by Ahn Jung-Hwan.
In the quarter final South Korea once again received unfair assistance from the Egyptian referee Gamal Al-Ghandour who disallowed two Spanish goals. Korea went on to win the game 5-3 on penalties, but their run was ended by Germany in the semi-final where they lost by a single goal.
#3 Luis Suarezs handball vs Ghana (2010)
Luis Suarez has been the center of controversy throughout his career, but the biggest among them happened during the 2010 World Cup.
Ghana were the only African team remaining in the tournament, they were carrying the hopes and pride of an entire continent. It was the quarter final round of the tournament.
Suarez cleared the ball of the goal line in the drying minutes of the match when the match was level to prevent a certain Ghana goal which would have sent them through to the semifinal. Suarez was shown a straight red card and Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty.
The match went to penalty shootouts and Uruguay won 4-2. Suarez was unapologetic about the incident and went on to say that he made the save of the tournament.
The incident sparked widespread debate, some called Suarez a cheat while many labeled him as a hero and BBC’s football pundit Paul Fletcher went on to say that most people would have done the same.
#2 Zidanes head butt vs Italy (2006)
One of the most iconic players of the modern game Zinedine Zidane singlehandedly took the French to the final of the 2006 World Cup. Zidane put France ahead through a stunning penalty and almost scored another, only to be denied by a brilliant save by Buffon.
Zidane then went from hero to zero in a matter of few minutes. He was sent off in the 110th minute of the match for head butting Italian Marco Materrazi in the chest, which meant Zidane couldnt participate in the penalty shootout which Italy went on to win 5-3.
It was later revealed that Materazzi had insulted Zidanes mother and sister which angered the Frenchman. Zidane in 2010 said that he would rather die than apologize to Materazzi.
Zidane walking towards the players tunnel past the World Cup trophy is one of the most heartbreaking football images..
#1 Maradonas hand of God (1986)
One of the most controversial figures in footballing history Diego Maradona etched himself in the history books back in 1986.
During the quarter final match against England in 1986, Maradona went in the box to challenge English keeper Peter Shilton for the ball in the 51st minute of the game. The English keeper was 8 inches taller, but the Argentine won the ball with his Hand of God and gave them the lead. They went on to win the game 2-1 and eventually the World Cup.
Eight years later, karma acted on the Argentinian as he was suspended from the 1994 edition of the tournament for being tested positive for drug use.
