FLASH
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The World Cup is the most watched sporting event on the planet, but alongside the excitement and spectacle, its history has also been marked by scandals that have shaken public opinion. Some of them led to significant changes to the rules of the game, while others permanently tarnished the reputations of football's protagonists and institutions.
"The Shame of Gijón" (1982)
The match between West Germany and Austria at the 1982 World Cup is considered one of the most controversial episodes in the history of the tournament.
The Germans won 1-0 thanks to an early goal, a result that qualified both teams and eliminated Algeria. After the goal, the pace of the game dropped significantly, while both teams were accused of avoiding any risk to preserve the result.
FIFA's reaction was immediate. Since the 1986 World Cup, the final group stage matches have been played at the same time to avoid similar situations.
Maradona's "Hand of God" (1986)
In the Argentina-England quarter-final, Diego Armando Maradona scored one of the most controversial goals in history, touching the ball with his hand before sending it into the net.
The referee did not find the foul and the goal was allowed. Maradona himself later described the episode as being achieved "a little bit with Maradona's head and a little bit with the Hand of God".
Just four minutes later he also scored what is considered the "Goal of the Century", after dribbling past several English players before scoring.
Argentina–Peru 6-0 (1978)
In the 1978 World Cup, Argentina needed a victory by at least four goals against Peru to secure a place in the final. The hosts triumphed 6-0.
The result was accompanied by allegations of match-fixing, also linked to the military regime that ruled the country at the time. However, despite persistent suspicions, no evidence was ever presented to substantiate these claims.
Maradona's positive test (1994)
Diego Maradona's last World Cup ended in the most bitter way. After the match against Nigeria, he tested positive for the banned substance ephedrine.
The Argentine legend was expelled from the tournament and never wore the national team jersey again, ending his international career in controversial circumstances.
"Battle of Santiago" (1962)
The clash between Chile and Italy in the group stage of the 1962 World Cup turned into one of the most violent matches ever played.
The match was characterised by scuffles, two red cards and repeated police intervention to restore order. A BBC commentator described it as "perhaps the most shameful display in the history of football".
Schumacher vs. Batiston (1982)
In the France–West Germany semi-final, goalkeeper Harald Schumacher severely kicked Patrick Batiston, who was knocked unconscious and suffered serious injuries, including the loss of several teeth.
Despite the severity of the tackle, the referee did not award a foul or penalty to the German goalkeeper, a decision that continues to be considered one of the most controversial in World Cup history.
Zinedine Zidane's header (2006)
The 2006 World Cup final was marked by the episode that ended Zinedine Zidane's career with the France jersey.
After a verbal argument with Marco Materazzi in extra time, Zidane headbutted the Italian defender in the chest and was sent off. France subsequently lost the final to Italy on penalties.
Luis Suarez and the handshake (2010)
In the Uruguay-Ghana quarter-final, Luis Suarez stopped a ball going into the goal with his hand in the final seconds of extra time.
The striker was sent off, but Ghana missed a penalty and were then eliminated from the penalty spot. Suarez's action continues to divide opinion between those who consider it an act of dishonor and those who see it as a sacrifice for the team.
FIFA corruption scandal (2015)
Not all World Cup scandals have happened on the field of play.
In 2015, US authorities indicted a number of senior FIFA officials on charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering. The investigations exposed alleged corrupt practices related to television rights and the World Cup host selection processes, triggering a deep crisis in the governance of world football.
The Tragedy of Andres Escobar (1994)
Among all the dark episodes of the World Cup, the story of Andres Escobar remains the most painful.
The Colombian defender scored an own goal in the loss to the United States, a result that contributed to Colombia's elimination from the 1994 World Cup.
Just days after returning to his homeland, Escobar was shot dead. His tragedy remains a stark reminder that football-related passions can have tragic consequences beyond the playing field.
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