5 Most Controversial World Cup Moments in History
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Written by
Charles Perrin -
30 Apr 20263 min. read
The World Cup has been laden with moments of breathtaking brilliance, leaving fans awestruck. However, in equal measure, there have been ample controversial incidents that have added to the wonderful history of the tournament.
This summer, all eyes will be firmly fixed on the tournament that will be held across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. We can’t wait to see how things unravel, and we will keep you abreast of all the developments.
Ahead of this year’s World Cup, we’ve decided to reminisce on some of the Controversial World Cup moments, and we’ve whittled it down to five.
Table of content
Key Takeaways
- The World Cup has been no stranger to controversy over the years.
- ‘Hand of God’ incident involving Diego Maradona, for example, caused outrage.
- Graham Poll once showed the same player a yellow card three times before sending them off.
- Spain are currently the short-priced favourite to lift the World Cup this summer.
- This year’s World Cup gets underway on June 16.
Hand of God
Diego Maradona will forever be inextricably linked to the World Cup, but not for the right reason! During Argentina’s quarter-final clash with England in 1986, Maradona went up for a cross and stretched out an arm to divert the ball past Peter Shilton into the net to put Argentina 1-0 up.
It was an unedifying moment of gamesmanship, and it seemed as if everyone in the stadium knew that the goal should have been disallowed. However, the referee gave it, and Argentina went on to clinch a 2-1 win.
That year, Argentina lifted the trophy. Currently, the reigning champions, Argentina have been installed at 9.00 with many World Cup betting bookies to defend their title, including Betpanda, while 2018 winners France, for example, have been more heavily backed at odds of 6.50.
Rivaldo Playacting
The Brazil World Cup-winning team of 2002 provided flair and panache, but there were also some histrionics in that side. We’re thinking particularly about Rivaldo here.
During a group game against Turkey, Rivaldo seemed to feign a head injury when the ball was kicked at him by Hakan Unsal, hitting his shin. Rivaldo collapsed to the ground, and Unsal, who had already been booked, was sent off.
Rivaldo was spotted playing up to the TV cameras, but the Brazilian maestro didn’t evade punishment by FIFA as he was slapped with a £4,500 fine.
Zinedine Zidane Headbutt
Zinedine Zidane invariably rose to the big occasion. Who could forget his two-goal salvo for France against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup Final?
However, fast forward eight years, and Zidane was at the centre of it once again in the Final against Italy. Having given Les Bleus the lead from the penalty spot, the talismanic midfielder got enraged in a heated argument with Marco Matterazzi during extra time and headbutted the defender.
Zidane was given his marching orders, and his team-mates went down on penalties. It was a sorry way to bring the curtain down on an exceptional international career!
Luis Suarez Shows His Teeth
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was known for being a slippery customer, but he also had plenty of bite (excuse the pun!). He had a previous for this behaviour, and that included being banned for 10 matches for Liverpool after biting Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League game in 2013 against Chelsea.
At the 2014 World Cup, Suarez got entangled with Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, and he appeared to bite him on the left shoulder. The referee at the time didn’t see the incident, but after FIFA footage was made available, Suarez was banned from all football-related activity for four months.
It was an unsavoury incident, and one which, at the time, Uruguay labelled an “excessive decision”.
Graham Poll’s Yellow Card Confusion
Two bookings in football, as we all know, equate to a red card. Try telling that to Graham Poll! The English referee appears in our carefully curated list for his moment of World Cup notoriety.
In 2006, Poll officiated a group game between Croatia and Australia. Poll showed a yellow card to Josip Simunic twice, but he didn’t pull out a red card. In stoppage time of the second half, Simunic produced another foul, and only after Poll cautioned him on the third occasion was he dismissed. Truly bizarre!
Controversial World Cup Moments Summary
The World Cup has seen its fair share of controversial World Cup moments, from Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal to Luis Suarez’s infamous bite. Key incidents like Zidane’s headbutt and Rivaldo’s playacting have shaped the tournament’s history.
Fans can check out top sports betting websites for odds on future World Cup tournaments and bet on teams with a history of making headlines.
FAQ About World Cup Moments
⭐ Which is the most controversial moment in World Cup history?
The World Cup has been laden with plenty of dramatic moments, and this is a subjective topic, but Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal against England was highly controversial at the time, and it is still talked about today.
⭐ What incidents didn’t make the list?
We had to be quite selective in the process, but among those that were overlooked included Suarez’s handball against Ghana and West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher knocking out France’s Patrick Battiston stone cold.
⭐ Who are the favourites to win the World Cup?
Spain are the favourites with the bookies, and they are trading at 5.50 with many top World Cup sportsbooks to triumph.
⭐ What are Argentina’s odds to win the World Cup?
Argentina are the defending champions; however, they have been priced a bit longer than some of the established powerhouses. You can find odds of 9.00 with many reputable operators to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.
⭐ When does the World Cup start?
This year’s World Cup starts on June 11, and matches will be staged across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
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