These footballers broke the rules for ultimate honours!
Every footballer harbours a deep-rooted desire for victory, sometimes driving them to bend the rules in pursuit of an advantage. Both on and off the pitch, players may resort to questionable tactics to secure a marginal gain or ensure success for their teams. Whether it's employing the "dark arts" during a match or pushing boundaries in training sessions, some players are willing to walk the fine line between genius and rule-breaking in their quest for greatness.
Diego Maradona's handball against England at Mexico 86 is a pivotal moment in the mythology of number 10, as it helped propel Argentina to World Cup success. Following a miskick by Steve Hodge of England, Maradona reacted fast, beating Peter Shilton to the ball and lifting it over the goalkeeper's head and into the net with his hand. To allay suspicions, Maradona encouraged his teammates to join him in celebrating after he scored. He referred to it as the "Hand of God" later.
In 2010, Luis Suarez found himself at the centre of a World Cup handball incident, reminiscent of Maradona's infamous moment. The Uruguayan striker deliberately used his hands to prevent a surefire Ghana goal, resulting in his dismissal from the match. However, his intervention in the dying moments of extra time pushed the quarter-final clash to penalties, ultimately leading to victory for the South American side. Four years later, Suarez once again made headlines for controversial reasons during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. This time, he infamously bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during a group stage match, prompting FIFA to impose a four-month ban on the talented forward.
(Luis Suarez Celebrating after his side has scored)
In the 2006 World Cup final, tension mounted as the score stood at 1-1 with only 10 minutes left of extra time when an extraordinary incident unfolded. France's captain, Zinedine Zidane, shocked the world by delivering a forceful headbutt to the chest of an Italian defender. Zidane's expulsion from the match proved pivotal, as Italy eventually emerged victorious in the penalty shootout. This moment marked the conclusion of Zidane's illustrious career with the French national team. In the aftermath, Zidane disclosed that he had been persistently provoked by Materazzi, the Italian defender.
In November 2009, France secured their place in the upcoming World Cup in South Africa by defeating the Republic of Ireland 2-1 on aggregate in a tense play-off tie. Robbie Keane's crucial goal in the second leg forced the match into extra time. However, controversy erupted in the 113th minute when Thierry Henry twice handled the ball from Florent Malouda's cross, assisting William Gallas in scoring the decisive goal. Ireland fervently requested a replay and even proposed joining the World Cup as a "33rd team," but FIFA rejected their appeals. Unsurprisingly, Henry's actions left him far from popular in Ireland.
In a pivotal World Cup qualifier against Brazil at the Maracana in 1989, with only 20 minutes remaining and his team trailing by a goal, Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas suddenly fell to the ground clutching his head. Rojas asserted that he had been struck by a firework thrown onto the pitch, which was smoldering just a yard away. With his head visibly injured, Rojas was stretchered off, and the match was left unfinished. Chile, desperate for a win to keep their World Cup hopes alive, found themselves trailing 1-0. However, it later emerged that Rojas had deliberately cut his own head with a razor blade concealed inside his glove. This deceitful act led to severe consequences: Chile was banned from the 1994 World Cup, and Rojas, along with the coach and team doctor, received lifetime suspensions. Rojas was eventually granted a pardon in 2001.
These instances prove how important winning can be for certain players. The cost of their reputation in football trumped their urge to win the game!
