Soccer is the most common game today. Games with similar purposes have existed since ancient times. It is believed that the birthplace of soccer is the British Isles, but the game was brought there by the Italians in the 14th century.
The first international soccer match was held in 1872 between Scotland and England. A match without the participation of representatives of England was first organized in 1901 between Uruguay and Argentina.
Soccer matches gather a very large number of fans, and the confrontation between them lasts for years. However, it also happens that during the matches themselves there are conflicts between fans and players. About this and other stories from sports, you can also read on our site – mega-news.in.
The scandal of the great Friday, Manchester United vs Liverpool, 1915
The situation was not only difficult at Old Trafford Stadium, but also in the political arena. World War I was underway, and the soccer championship season was scheduled to be suspended until its completion. Players of both clubs could have been left without a livelihood. At the time Liverpool was more successful, he was in the middle of the First Division standings, while Manchester City was trying to push into the Second Division and striving to gain points.
Hoping to win money, the players of both teams turned to a bookmaker’s office and placed bets on a prearranged score. During the game, the referees noticed that Liverpool was playing too relaxed, not looking to even score or take the lead. The game ended in defeat for Liverpool, but an investigation into the outcome began.
It turned out that it was the score on which the players had bet money in a bookmaker’s office at odds of 8:1. The conspiracy involved 7 players who were later identified and punished with a lifetime suspension. Club managers were not sanctioned, because their participation in the conspiracy was not proven. Although, if blogs existed at the time, fans would have trashed the administration.
Mass brawl at the Hungary-Brazil championship, 1954
In the mid-20th century, fights between fans, players, and coaches were almost commonplace. This match was no exception. The reason for this was the defeat of the Brazilians in their home match in 1950. The Brazilians were going to bounce back and restore their reputation, but they chose the wrong opponent: the Hungarians were stronger and played aggressively.
Brazil was losing and at some point the players began to be rude to their opponents, to which they responded. The match ended with Brazil’s defeat, but the main scandal occurred after the match. Fighting between fans, players and coaches was fierce but did not embarrass anyone.
Germany vs. the Netherlands match, a spit in the back
Frank Rijkaard had no friendly feelings for German Rudi Feller from the start of the game. On 18 minutes, he insulted the German player and then spat on the back of his head. The referee punished this trick with a yellow card, because of which the German player did not escalate the fight. However, everything changed on 22 minutes, when Rajkard again failed to hold back against the player, a real fight broke out between them, which was followed by another spit, but this time more insulting – in the face. After this outrageous behavior, both players were sent off the field. The FRG team won the match with a score of 2-1.
Zidane’s header, FIFA World Cup 2006 final
The match between Italy and France was held in Berlin. The Italian team won the match thanks to a penalty shootout and won the match 5-3. This match was not easy. The main and extra time brought the teams to a draw with a score of 3-3, and the result might have been completely different, if not for the removal from the field of the main star of French soccer at that time Zinedine Zidane.
On 19 minutes of the match, Marco Materazzi insulted Zidane. For this Zidane hit his opponent`s head on his chest. The French footballer was given a red card and was sent off the pitch. However, for Zidane, this was the first bell for the end of his career.
However, in France, Zinedine Zidane was received by the then president with support. The incident, he said, was unacceptable, and the footballer was considered provoked and insulted. And most French people, according to later polls, understood Zidane’s actions and forgave his misconduct.
Denmark vs Sweden, scandal during the game, 2007
It all started with an ardent Danish fan. More than 40,000 people gathered in the stadium in Copenhagen, where the European Championship qualifying match was taking place. In the 89th minute of the game, the teams tied the score. Referee Herbert Fandel awarded a penalty to the Danish national team and sent off midfielder Poulsen.
In outrage at such a decision, one of the fans ran out of his seat and tried to beat the referee, grabbing him by the neck. The guards immediately disarmed the intruder and the match had to be stopped. As a result, Denmark suffered a technical defeat 3-0 and the results of the game were declared null and void.
Three years later, the fan received his punishment, he was fined DKK 2.2 million in favor of the Danish Football Association.
Parade of red cards, 2011, Claypole – Aureliano Arenas
The first half of the Argentine championship match went without excesses. At the end of it, only two players were sent off the field.
However, during the second half, the situation got out of hand. The referee awarded regular penalties, the referees had no time to follow what was going on, serious collisions occurred on the pitch, it was not clear who was to blame, and by the end of the match 36 players had been suspended.
This situation was publicized in the media and a harsh penalty in the form of a lifetime suspension was called for the referee. However, they tried to get out of the situation, while issuing an implausible excuse that the referee did not understand and suspended innocent players.
World Cup 2010 playoffs, England vs Germany, refereeing error
It was an intense battle between the teams from the 32nd minute when the Germans were winning by 2 goals. First, the English scored one goal, then almost immediately the second. That’s what became the point of contention on the court. Frank Lampard made a great shot from behind the penalty area and it seemed to all the fans and the team that the goal tied the score. However, the Uruguayan team of judges did not recognize the fact that the ball hit the goal and did not award the British such an important point.
Opinion on the situation was mixed: there were a lot of controversies, and the players themselves could not watch the replay of the shot and understand whether there was a goal. Fans and players were agitated, this development of the conflict led to the introduction of replays to rule out refereeing errors.
Match-fixing in Lebanon, 2013
At the end of 2012, Lebanese players of many clubs and even the national team were accused of deliberately losing matches. It was alleged that, at the behest of bookmakers who accepted bets, the players deliberately lost to their opponents and were paid for it. The investigation lasted two months and, based on the testimonies, the fact of bribery was proved.
Twenty-four Lebanese soccer players were found guilty, along with two officials. The players received a temporary suspension and fines, while Ramiz Dayuba and Mahmoud El-Ali each received a lifetime suspension and a $15,000 fine.
Results of scandalous soccer matches
As in any sport, soccer is not without controversy and clashes. Everyone defends their position and dreams of winning their team. Often, the emotional intensity on the field is so great that it goes beyond the boundaries of the permitted. This can manifest itself in disagreement with the decisions of the referees, resentment for loss and suspicion of mockery, the desire to justify the defeat, or unbridled energy from the long-awaited victory.
As a rule, conflicts after soccer matches are resolved in favor of justice: all bribed players and leaked tournaments are identified and the guilty are severely punished. Serious investigations are conducted into the involvement of players, coaches, referees, or club management in the incidents and everything is done to ensure that this does not happen again. Even when the brilliant career of a soccer star is at stake, it cannot put the lives and health of nearby match participants at risk.