5 Most Controversial Moments in World Cup History

With the pride of whole nations at stake in even the qualifying matches for the tournament, the Football World Cup has the ability to bring out the best and the worst of both football fans and in participating teams. It is therefore no surprise that after over almost a century of competition, the Football World Cup has set the stage for some of the most controversial moments in sporting history.

1. The Football War

One of the most controversial moments in football history erupted in the qualifying stages of the 1970 Football World Cup. The two teams involved were El Salvador and Honduras, with tension between the two nations already high due to long simmering political tensions.

After the two ties between the countries resulted in the two teams being in a deadlock, tension between supporters overflowed into the general populace, and within three weeks the two countries were at war. Over 2,000 Hondurans died as a result of the week-long conflict.

Incredibly, the two sides met for a replay just one week after the ceasefire, with El Salvador winning 3-2 in extra time. El Salvador subsequently played at the 1970 World Cup and was unable to progress beyond the group stage.

2. The Zidane Headbutt

One of the most controversial moments in Football World Cup history is believed by many to have cost France the 2006 World Cup title. The incident occurred during the final of the tournament, when Italy was playing extra time against France and the sides were level on one goal apiece.

With the clock on 110 minutes, the match produced a moment that will live in infamy. Zinedine Zidane, who had scored for France in normal time, approached Italian goal scorer Marco Materazzi and headbutted him in the chest, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Zidane's attack resulted in an instant red card, and the Frenchman was sent off the field and forced to watch his side lose to Italy on penalties. Zinedine later accused Materazzi of insulting both his mother and his sister. The press, meanwhile, attempted to convince the public that Materazzi had called the Moroccan-born Zidane a terrorist.

3. The Beckham Incident

Football's currently most recognizable player, David Beckham, was at the centre of one of the biggest controversies in Football World Cup history. Playing in his first World Cup in 1988, Beckham had already come under fire for lack of application from manager Glen Hoddle, when an incident in the round of 16 transformed him into public enemy number one.

England was playing Argentina for a place in the quarter-finals when Beckham was fouled by Diego Simeone and sent sprawling to the ground. Instead of waiting for the referee to dish out punishment to the Argentinean, Beckham took matters into his own hands and lashed out at Simeone with his boot.

Beckham did this in plain sight of the referee and earned himself an instant red card. With 10 men on the field England struggled to fend off the Argentinean attack and eventually drew the match, forcing a penalty shootout in which they lost the match.

Responsibility for the defeat was placed squarely on Beckham's shoulders, and in subsequent weeks Beckham received death threats, was publicly humiliated by the tabloids, and otherwise lambasted for his perceived role in England's early exit from the World Cup.

2. The Worst Game in History

A group stage match between Italy and Chile during the 1962 Football World Cup has been described by many as the most ugly game in the history of the sport. The reason for this was that the match was more of a brawl than a game.

A game that began with strong tensions between the two sides soon turned itself into an all-out fracas. The first red card was issued after just 8 minutes, with the player sent-off, Giorgio Ferrini, then refusing to leave the field.

During the match, Italy's Mario David was punched by Leonel Sanchez, to which David responded with a kick to his opponent's neck. Humberto Maschio departed the field with a broken nose, and a number of altercations devolved into spitting contests between the two sides. Chile won the match 2-0.

1. The Hand of God

The most controversial moment in the history of the Football World Cup involved one of the sport’s most controversial players. The infamous incident occurred during a quarterfinal encounter between England and Argentina at the 1986 Football World Cup.

England had struggled to contain livewire Argentinean winger, Diego Maradona for almost an hour, when Maradona found himself in the path of a clearance kick by Steve Hodge close to the penalty box. Maradona leapt into the air, challenged by Peter Shilton, and somehow contrived to send the ball into the back of the England goal.

Subsequent replays clearly showed how the diminutive Maradona had palmed the ball into the net. Four minutes later, Maradona scored what is recognised as one of the finest goals in history. Unfortunately, his brilliance was overshadowed by the manner in which he had scored the first goal.