The game of football has never been away from controversies. And considering this is the World Cup stage, there’s going to plenty of them. Now, let’s recap on some of the most controversial goals and games in the history of World Cup football.
10. West Germany versus Austria, 1982
This game also known as the ‘Shame of Gijon’ is ranked among the worst games in football history. West Germany needed a victory to go through to the next round, had they lost they would’ve been eliminated with Algeria and Austria going through. So the two teams decided that they would play out the game for their mutual benefit.
9. Francesco Totti’s penalty goal against Australia, 2006.
Australian defender Lucas Neill slid inside the box to prevent Italian Fabio Grosso from dribbling past him. Grosso allegedly dived to win his team a penalty. Totti successfully found the back of the net which sent the Italians marching into the Quarter-finals.
8. Nakamura’s goal against Australia, 2006
Another controversial goal involving the Australians: Shunsuke Nakamura made an on-target attempt at goal which Mark Schwarzer tried to save. But Japanaese forward Naohiro Takahara blocked the 6 foot 4 giant which resulted in a goal.
7. Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany, 2010
England veteran Frank Lampard made a wonderful strike that hit the cross bar, pitched inside the line and bounced back out. It was just another Geoff Hurst moment which, if allowed, would have been a boost for England. Instead, the goal was disallowed and the German’s won 4-1.
Take a look at how spectacular the goal was:
6. Zico’s disallowed goal against Sweden, 1978
The Brazilian player Zico’s header goal from a corner kick was disallowed by the referee just on the cusp of half-time as he argued the goal was scored after the whistle was blown. This is just an example of how bad the refereeing was at those times:
5. Andreas Brehme’s goal against Argentina, 1990
The only goal in the 1990 World Cup final came from the penalty kick won by Rudi Voller’s ‘alleged’ dive. Brehme successfully converted the ball to give Germany the victory. Argentina was said to have been cheated of a victory and this World Cup was considered the most controversial and the ugliest tournament in the history of football.
4. France’s disallowed goal against Kuwait, 1982
This match too makes the list as one of the controversial matches in football history. Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah, then president of the Kuwait FA ran into the field to argue with the referee after France scored saying that his players had stopped playing after they heard a whistle from the crowds. The referee Ukranian Miroslav Stupar, funnily enough, disallowed the goal.
3. Carlos Tevez’s goal against Mexico, 2010
Carlos Tevez opening goal in the last 16 stage of the world cup against Mexico stirred up controversy. Tevez looked like he was on an offside position. The referees were hounded by both the teams. They first disallowed the goal and again allowed it.
Here’s the video of the goal:
2. Geoff Hurst’s goal against Germany , 1966
England’s third goal by Geoff Hurst created quite the stir as the player’s kick hit the crossbar pitched inside the line and bounced back out. Referee Gottfried Dienst and linesman Tofik Bakhramov allowed the goal causing furore among the German players.
1. Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’, 1986
Diego Maradona’s goal against England where he used his hand to score, is possibly the most famous goals of all time. This goal still rouses heated debate among the football community. In his own words the goal was scored, “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”
Here’s the video of the infamous incident:
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