With the 2014 FIFA World Cup only days away, it seems appropriate to recap some of the biggest shocks, controversies and outrageous incidents the world’s largest sporting event has given us.
Worst refereeing ever
Referees occasionally have shockers that make us call for their heads, but Graeme Poll took the gold medal for sheer incompetence in 2006.
The whistle-blower with a tenuous grasp on the rules of football gave Josip Simunic three yellow cards in the same match against Australia. He did not record the first card, and later when Simunic received a second he remained on the field, not taking any time to point out to the hapless Poll that it was his second booking.
It took a third yellow for him to finally get his marching orders. For some strange reason, Poll hasn’t refereed in the World Cup since.
Phantom goal
England’s proudest moment as a footballing nation came in 1966, when they won the World Cup for the first and only time. But in the final against West Germany, the injury-time winner hit the crossbar and bounced down.
The referee relied on his linesman to make the call. The linesman called it a goal.
Many years later, and possibly regretting that he gave England a claim to a legitimate footballing achievement, the same linesman said he didn’t actually see it cross the line.
A little late for the Germans, but England have never gone close to lifting the Cup since.
Hand of God
The 1986 World Cup was most notable for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God”.
The English goalkeeper had almost a foot height buffer over Maradona, which made the diminutive Argentinean’s header for a goal truly miraculous.
On reflection, the only miracle was how the on-field referee and two linesmen came to the conclusion that Maradona somehow grew tall enough to tip the ball past lanky goalkeeper Peter Shilton with his head.
Italian All Blacks
In 1938 Europe was about to be plunged into a brutal war and sport was not spared from the cross-border tensions. The French team played in their traditional blue, and Italy was scheduled to wear their alternate white kit.
But, as dictators do, Italian leader Benito Mussolini had other plans, sending the national team out dressed head-to-toe in black as a mark of support for his fascist regime.
The crowd was enraged and a minor riot ensued when the Italians won the game.
Zidane versus Materazzi
Red cards are generally debatable. Not this time.
Marco Materazzi was a pest of the highest order on the pitch, often driving opposition players to distraction. After a game of vile insults directed against his family in the climax of the 2006 tournament, Zinedine Zidane wheeled around and head-butted Materazzi in the chest, dropping him to the turf like a heavyweight boxer delivering a knock-out punch.
Zidane was sent off, Italy won, and Zidane retired.
Australian fans were left to rue the fact it wasn’t Fabio Grosso who received the full force of Zidane’s head.
German head hunter
Football is sometimes derided as being soft, with dives and simulation drawing free kicks and cards. This was not the case in 1982 semi final between France and West Germany.
The French striker broke the German defensive lines and fired a shot on goal. The German goalkeeper ignored the ball completely and went for the man instead, battering into the Frenchman.
The result? Knocked out teeth, a broken vertebrae and a resulting coma for the French striker – injuries which doctors described as more consistent with a motorcycle accident.
Meanwhile, the shot missed the target and the goalkeeper escaped even a caution from the match officials.
What are your favourite and most memorable World Cup controversies Roarers?
Dasilva
Guest
I have to say if the Hungarian goalkeeper knew about the potential deaths to the Italian players beforehand and deliberately allow Italy to win to prevent that It's probably the only time where fixing the match is the moral action and perhaps the biggest example of sportsmanship in Football history.
Dasilva
Guest
If you want to learn more about it have a read here about the Italy in the 1934 and 1938 World Cup http://outsideoftheboot.com/2014/05/20/fascism-and-football-how-italy-won-the-1934-and-1938-world-cup/ Interesting highlights of the article "The Italians faced favourites Austria, who were known as the Wunderteam, in the semi final and won 1-0. It is believed, and rightly too, that Mussolini himself had dinner with the Swedish referee, Ivan Eklind, who would officiate the following match, the day before. Why? To discuss ‘tactics’ of course." "Bican maintained till his death in 2001, that he was certain that the referee Eklind had been bribed. The Austrian-Czech had good reason to say so too. After all, his ball sent to the right wing was headed to an Italian player by the referee who had intercepted it by mistake! " "The solitary goal of the match was scored by Enrique Guiata (which many people claimed was offside), one of the Oriundi, and its build-up saw the Austrian Goalkeeper being pushed blatantly" "The same Swedish referee (Ivan Eklind), who officiated the semi-final, was asked to look over the final. He was even invited to the Fascist VIP box before the match began." 1938 World Cup "Il Duce made sure that his players knew that winning the cup was a matter of life and death (Note: This is not a figurative sentence). A telegram was sent to the players before the final which read “Vincere o morire!” which, translated literally into English reads “Win or die!” Even if the term has been lost in translation and is not as literal as he intended it to be, when a person known for purging people who did not believe in his ideologies is in question, one could assume that his telegram would have been taken very seriously by the Italians. Italy beat Hungary 4-2 to win the match, and the Hungarian goalkeeper Antal Szabó famoulsy said, “I may have let in four goals, but at least I saved their lives.”
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
I'm fairly sure that after that incident most of England would have been happy to despatch the fleet down to the Falklands and Argentina again.
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Well put Andrew, it's why deep down no one really wants perfect refs or results, it takes all the colour and conversations like this out of the game
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Apparently they still regard that defeat as still outweighing all the triumphs, it's that big a scar on the national psyche.
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
There was some commentary after the cup that Materazzi mentioned Zidane's mother and some other unsavoury things to do with her, but they did come from Italian lip-readers reviewing the footage after the fact, you're right though, the only thing Materazzi ever owned up to was the sisters shirt comment.
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
Hahaha, I wonder what else people got away with before TV and 42 cameras covering every angle.
Raj Padarath
Roar Pro
You're right Lee, that Germany-Austria collusion was one of the worst examples of a lack of sportsmanship in the modern era
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Here's another one, Beckham's red card v Argentina in 98. From the angle of the blow, a backwards flick to the lower calf from a reverse prostrate position, it is physically impossible to generate any force. Simeone sold it by rolling around on the floor about 15 times. Surely a common sense decision would have been yellow to Beckham for the love tap and yellow to Simeone for the awful play acting.
Dasilva
Guest
You are correct but doesn't stop it being a massive controversy. There were debates about whether there should be rule changes for "penalty goals" after the match. Where a handball that directly prevented a goal should be given a goal.
Brian
Guest
Except the law was applied correctly. Ghana weren't good enough to convert the penalty.
apaway
Roar Guru
About the "Hand Of God?" let me just say this: No-one blames Peter Shilton for that goal. But what goalkeeper, standing at 6 feet tall, is unable to outjump a 5 foot 6 striker and cleanly catch the ball? Maradona had his fist next to his head and yes, he hand-balled the ball into the net. But any keeper worth his salt knows that you have to catch the ball at the highest point possible, using your extended reach advantage. peter Shilton made a terrible goalkeeping blunder on that day.
Tigranes
Guest
Dasilva it was a massive upset, and one, arguably that brazil will be looking to remedy over the next few weeks...even though brazil has won many a World Cup since then.
Andrew Kennard
Roar Pro
I love how these stories of the world cup controversies become the stuff of legends as the time passes. A very good friend of mine is from Hungary and I recall his father telling me of the great Ferenc Puskas of the mighty magyars losing 3-2 in the final of the 54 world cup final to the West German team. I remember being shown a documentary on how the Germans accidentally left the sprinklers on overnight to sodden the pitch as they had changeable studs, the controversial off side call, the allegations of methampethamine use, the whole shabang. It almost adds to the theatre, the great political movements that come about (capitalism vs communism in this case). Truly amazing.
c
Guest
thanks mr football just had a quick perusal of your article and your facts are accurate no doubt there is certainly history and culture in the egg ball games no doubt over many decades but seriously if you look at the state that they are currently in ( anyway afl i don't know about rugby) i think that there is real potential because seriously there is no comparison between the games
Mister Football
Roar Guru
c This is quite pertinent - I think you might find your answer here: http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/06/11/famous-clubs-australia-part-iv/
c
Guest
i have a question 4 fuss didn't know where to put it so i put it here as it is controversial, fuss what do you think about the idea of putting our competition directly against the egg ball codes which are doing so poorly i think that if we are playing games at the same time we will get spectators changing over towards our game and build a fanbase would love to hear your thoughts on this i think that it can work
Dasilva
Guest
I also mention that there was precedent for the Graham Poll 3 yellow card saga. In 1974 World Cup when Australia played Chile. Socceroos Ray Richards received two yellow cards but played on for two more minutes before being sent off. It's not identical because he never received a third card but it's similar due to him playing on as the referee forgot to send him off. Read more about it here http://www.planetworldcup.com/GUESTS/ruud20060728.html
Dasilva
Guest
Also The sequel Hand Of Suarez as well
Brian
Guest
Some others that have or have not been mentioned 1. The German Austrian Anschluss of 1982 2. Qatar 2022 3. Spain robbed by Korea 2002 a goal disallowed for no reason anyone can provide 4. the Argentinian disruption to the Dutch before the 1978 final 5. The Battle of Santiago 1962 6. Kuwaiti Sheikh disallowed a goal against France 1982 7. Diego Hand of God