Biggest FIFA World Cup Controversies: Battle of Santiago, Zinedine Zidane’s Headbutt, and More

Uruguay 1930

• Death threats: Before the final between Argentina and Uruguay at the first FIFA World Cup, Argentine footballer Luis Monti received anonymous death threats, warning him and his family of consequences if Argentina won. Monti’s performance in the second half was subdued and Uruguay won 4–2. Whether Monti’s performance was a result of the threats is still debated. Four years later, he won the World Cup with Italy, becoming the first player to appear in World Cup finals for two different countries.

Italy 1934

• Fascist salutes: Italy was under the rule of Benito Mussolini when it hosted the 1934 World Cup. The Italian team performed fascist salutes at its matches, including in the final against Czechoslovakia.

France 1938

• Austria disappears: Austria had qualified as an independent country for the 1938 World Cup in France. However, following the Anschluss (1938)—the merger of Austria with Germany under Adolf Hitler—Austria’s qualification became void. Sweden, which had been drawn against Austria in the group stage, automatically advanced to the next round.
• Blackshirts: During their quarterfinal match against France, Italy’s players infamously wore black shirts instead of their traditional blue or white kits as a tribute to Mussolini’s fascist regime.

Brazil 1950

• Several teams withdraw: Several teams that qualified for the World Cup eventually withdrew. India was reportedly absent because players were not allowed to play barefoot. However, the truth is more prosaic: The newly independent country (India achieved freedom from British colonial rule in 1947) did not compete because of financial and logistical difficulties. France and Turkey (Türkiye) withdrew because the cost of traveling was too high. Scotland refused to go to Brazil, because it had vowed to participate only if it won the British Home Championship—it finished second.

Switzerland 1954

• Unlucky Spain: Spain was eliminated from the 1954 World Cup and Turkey  qualified, with luck acting as a crucial factor. After the qualifying match between the two sides was inconclusive, a blindfolded boy drew lots, and the rest is history. Spain stayed home, and Turkey made its World Cup debut.

Chile 1962

• Battle of Santiago: The group stage match between Chile and Italy at the 1962 World Cup was one of the most chaotic in the tournament’s history, with numerous fouls committed on both sides, violent altercations, two send-offs, and police interventions. Italian player Giorgio Ferrini refused to leave the pitch after being dismissed and had to be escorted off by the police. A BBC presenter called the match the most “disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football in the history of the game.”
• Garrincha’s ejection reversal:Brazilian star Garrincha was sent off in the semifinal against Chile. However, Brazilian Prime Minister Tancredo Neves was urged to file a complaint with FIFA, Chilean President Jorge Alessandri backed a petition for Garrincha to play in the final, and Peru’s President Manuel Prado asked for leniency from Arturo Yamazaki, his compatriot and the match referee. Ultimately, FIFA’s disciplinary committee decided to allow Garrincha to play in the final. At the time of the incident, FIFA had not yet introduced the yellow and red card system and the rules did not explicitly require players who were sent off to be barred from playing in a subsequent fixture.

England 1966

• Ghost goal: England’s 4–2 win over West Germany in the final of the 1966 World Cup featured one of football’s most debated moments. With both teams level at 2–2 after 90 minutes, England’s Geoff Hurst blasted a shot in extra time that hit the crossbar and bounced near the goal line. The referee awarded the goal, and England went on to beat West Germany. However, replays have never conclusively settled whether the ball fully crossed the line.
• “Violence of the tongue”: In the 1966 quarterfinal between Argentina and England, referee Rudolf Kreitlein sent off Argentine captain Antonio Rattín for what Kreitlein later called “violence of the tongue.” Furious with the decision, Rattín initially refused to leave the pitch. As he eventually left, he walked to Queen Elizabeth’s royal box (she wasn’t at the match) and sat on the red carpet.

West Germany 1974

• A tournament to forget for Zaire: One of the strangest moments in the World Cup occurred as Brazil was about to take a free kick in a match against Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). Mwepu Ilunga sprinted from his defensive wall and blasted the ball away before Brazil could take the shot. It was initially thought that Ilunga was confused over the rules. However, years later, Ilunga revealed that he and his team were warned by Zaire’s authoritarian leader, Mobutu Sese Seko, that they would not be allowed to return to their country if they lost to Brazil by four goals or more. Zaire ultimately lost 3–0.

Argentina 1978

• Six goals, endless questions: Argentina needed to beat Peru by at least four goals to qualify from its group and face the Netherlands in the final. It won 6–0 against Peru and eventually defeated the Netherlands to lift its first World Cup trophy. However, its victory over Peru has since been riddled with allegations of match fixing, particularly because Argentina was ruled by a military junta that was accused of using its political influence to secure a favorable result.

Spain 1982

• Disgrace of Gijón: After defeating West Germany 2–1, Algeria had a good chance of qualifying from its group. West Germany just needed to defeat Austria by three goals or more in the final group game. Both teams knew that a 1–0 or 2–0 West German victory would send both Austria and West Germany through to the next stage and eliminate Algeria. The match became suspiciously uneventful after West Germany scored in the 11th minute. The match drew intense criticism from fans and was dubbed the “disgrace of Gijón.” FIFA later altered the rules of the game so that final group matches are played simultaneously to help prevent similar controversies.
• An unusual pitch invasion: During Kuwait’s match against France, Prince Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the then-president of the Kuwaiti Football Association and brother of the ruling emir, descended from the stands and marched onto the pitch to dispute a French goal. After a 10-minute delay during which he threatened to pull his team off the field, the referee disallowed the goal.

Mexico 1986

• Hand of God: Argentine legend Diego Maradona’s illegal use of his hand to score a goal in the quarterfinal against England is so infamous that even those who do not watch football are likely to be familiar with the “hand of God” goal—named for a phrase Maradona later used to describe the incident. Minutes after his controversial goal, Maradona scored again, dribbling past multiple defenders and goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Argentina went on to defeat England 2–1 and the second strike was later voted FIFA’s “goal of the century” but is still surpassed by the “hand of God” in public memory.

Italy 1990

• A controversial penalty: Argentina, looking to defend its title, faced West Germany in a repeat of the 1986 World Cup final. The match, which remained scoreless until the 85th minute, came alive when the referee awarded a penalty to West Germany after a challenge on Rudi Völler in the penalty box. Andreas Brehme scored from the spot, and West Germany lifted its third World Cup. However, the referee’s decision was controversial and has been debated since.

United States 1994

• Maradona’s failed drug test: Argentina’s hopes for a third World Cup were dealt a blow following its victory over Nigeria when Maradona tested positive for ephedrine, a banned drug. Maradona was expelled from the 1994 World Cup, marking the end of his international career. In 2022 Argentina won its third title, led by Lionel Messi.
• A World Cup tragedy: Colombian defender Andrés Escobar scored an own goal in a 2–1 defeat to the United States at the group stage of the 1994 World Cup, contributing to Colombia’s early exit. Days after returning home, Escobar was shot dead in Medellín. Although the exact motives of the killing remain unclear, it was suggested that his death was connected to the own goal.

France 1998

• A kick and a red card: English midfielder David Beckham received a red card in a round-of-16 match with Argentina after kicking Argentine midfielder Diego Simeone. England was eliminated on penalties, and Beckham faced intense criticism from fans and media, many of whom blamed him for the country’s early exit.
• The torture of Iraqi footballers: Uday Hussein, the eldest son of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, was the president of the Iraqi Football Association during the 1980s and ’90s. Uday was widely reported to have ordered brutal punishments for the national team’s footballers who performed poorly on the pitch. Following a 2–1 defeat against Kazakhstan in a 1998 World Cup qualifying match, several Iraqi players were reportedly transported to the Radwaniya prison camp on the outskirts of Baghdad. They later described having their heads shaved, being dragged across gravel paths until their backs were raw, and being forced to immerse themselves in vats of raw sewage so their wounds would become infected. In his book The World Cup’s Strangest Moments (2005), author Peter Seddon notes that the players were also subjected to falaka—an ancient torture method in which victims are repeatedly struck on the soles of their feet. Reports of this abuse prompted FIFA to send a two-man delegation to Baghdad to investigate the claims, which found no conclusive evidence. Following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime, former Iraqi players spoke out about the torture they had been subjected to.

South Korea and Japan 2002

• South Korea’s controversial run: South Korea, a cohost of the 2002 World Cup, stunned Portugal, Italy, and Spain on its way to the semifinal. However, disputable refereeing decisions, especially in the matches against Italy and Spain, led to allegations that South Korea may have benefited from favorable officiating.
• Simulation scandal: During Brazil’s group stage match against Turkey, Brazilian player Rivaldo collapsed clutching his face after a ball kicked by Turkish defender Hakan Ünsal hit Rivaldo’s leg. The incident led to Ünsal’s dismissal from the game and drew widespread criticism after replays showed Rivaldo playacting. FIFA later fined Rivaldo for simulation.

Germany 2006

• Three yellows, one player: During a 2006 World Cup group stage match between Croatia and Australia, referee Graham Poll showed Croatian player Josip Šimunić three yellow cards before showing a red. (Read What are yellow and red cards in football?). The episode not only created confusion on the field but also remains one of the most infamous refereeing mistakes in World Cup history.
• Battle of Nuremberg: Portugal and the Netherlands faced each other in a round-of-16 match widely considered one of the most contentious matches in the tournament’s history. The referee showed 16 yellow cards and a World Cup record of 4 red cards.
• Final red card: Zinedine Zidane’s glittering international career ended with a red card after he headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the 110th minute in one of the most important matches of his career: the 2006 World Cup final. Italy ultimately won the match on penalties.

South Africa 2010

• The goal that wasn’t given: English midfielder Frank Lampard appeared to score against Germany in a round-of-16 match at the 2010 World Cup when his shot struck the crossbar and bounced well past the goal line. However, the goal was disallowed by the referee and Germany eventually defeated England 4–1.
• The hand that broke a continent: During extra time at the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal against Ghana, Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez deliberately handled the ball on the goal line, preventing Ghana from scoring the winning goal. Suárez was shown a red card for his action and Ghana received a penalty. However, Ghanaian player Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty and the match went to a penalty shoot-out, which Uruguay won. Suárez was blamed by a lot of the media and fans for preventing Ghana from becoming the first African country to reach the semifinal of a World Cup.

Brazil 2014

• The bite heard around the world: Uruguay’s Luis Suárez was in the thick of controversy yet again when he bit Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during a group stage match. Although the referee failed to notice the incident, cameras captured the bite. FIFA later handed Suárez a lengthy suspension.
• “No era penal”: Mexico’s round-of-16 clash with the Netherlands ended in controversy when Dutch player Arjen Robben won a penalty, helping the Oranje—as the Netherlands team is known—secure a 2–1 victory. Mexican fans argued that there was minimal contact and a penalty was not deserved, giving rise to the phrase “No era penal” (Spanish: “That was not a penalty”).

Russia 2018

• Debate over FIFA’s fair play rule: Japan became the first team in World Cup history to qualify for the knockout stage through FIFA’s fair play rule. Japan and Senegal finished level on points, goal difference, and goals scored, but Japan advanced because it had received fewer yellow cards. The outcome sparked debate because Japan, trailing Poland 1–0, had spent much of the final 10 minutes of its last group stage match passing the ball rather than attacking, knowing that the result would likely be enough to qualify.

Qatar 2022

• Battle of Lusail: In the 2022 World Cup, Argentina battled the Netherlands in a quarterfinal match that was one of the most chaotic and intense matches in the tournament’s history. Many fouls were committed, including physical altercations, reckless tackles, and verbal spats. The referee produced 18 yellow cards, the most in World Cup history, and 1 red card.

Canada, Mexico, United States 2026

VAR under fire: The 2026 World Cup saw the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) come under scrutiny following a string of controversial decisions in matches involving several countries, particularly Argentina and Portugal. For instance, in a round-of-16 match, Argentina came back from a 2–0 deficit to defeat Egypt 3–2. The VAR’s decision to grant Argentina a penalty, along with several other refereeing decisions, drew heavy criticism. Some Egyptian players and staff members even suggested that the match had been influenced unfairly in Argentina’s favor. Similar VAR controversies were also seen in matches between Argentina and Austria, Portugal and Croatia, Germany and Paraguay, and Egypt and Iran.

Applying the Vinicius Jr law: For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA introduced a new rule allowing referees to show red cards to players who cover their mouths during confrontations. The rule is aimed at preventing hidden abusive comments. Two red cards were shown in the World Cup for this particular offense. Paraguayan player Miguel Almirón became the first player to receive a red card for covering his mouth in a group stage match against Turkey. Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié was also sent off for covering his mouth in a round-of-32 match against Mexico. The issue came to the fore following a 2026 UEFA Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid. During the match, Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth and allegedly abused Real Madrid’s Vinicius Júnior UEFA conducted an investigation and banned Prestianni from several matches after finding him guilty of making abusive comments.

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Balogun’s ban reversed: United States player Folarin Balogun received a red card in a round-of-32 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which immediately resulted in an automatic one-match suspension. However, FIFA later rescinded the decision and allowed him to play for the U.S.’ round-of-16 match against Belgium, which the United States ultimately lost 4-1 to exit the tournament. FIFA’s decision was criticized by the Royal Belgian Football Association, arguing that the decision was against FIFA’s disciplinary code. U.S. Pres. Donald Trump praised the reversal and said that he had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the decision. While Trump insisted that he did not pressure Infantino to rescind the red card, members and advisers of his administration helped assemble legal support for the appeal, and senior officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly called for an appeals process to deliberate on overturning the ban.