Top 10 most scandalous footballers in history

Football is not only a sport, but also a show full of unexpected twists and turns. Players go on the field not only for victories, but also for emotions, which sometimes go beyond the limits of allowed. Sometimes their actions are so scandalous that they resonate for years to come. Fans who love unpredictability know that in football, as in gambling, bets can play both in favour and disadvantage. That's why many of them choose non gamstop casinos with £5 deposit to try their luck, inspired by dramatic moments in the lives of their favourite sportsmen.

The history of scandals in football

Football, like any sport, has always been accompanied not only by beautiful goals and resounding victories, but also by scandals that have become part of its history. Back in the early 20th century, players could get into fights right on the pitch, and refereeing decisions often caused riots among fans. In the absence of video replays and strict rules, players could behave extremely aggressively and referees would often make controversial decisions, causing outrage.

As football's popularity on the international stage grew, the scandals became more high-profile and complex, covering not only the behaviour of players but also the actions of referees, clubs and even entire federations. The 1966 World Cup is remembered not only for England's victory, but also for the controversial final against Germany, where the refereeing still raises questions. In 1982, the famous match between France and Germany made history because of the brutal clash between Patrick Battiston and goalkeeper Tony Schumacher, after which the French player lost several teeth and fainted, but the referee did not even award a penalty kick.

At the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, there were numerous controversial refereeing decisions in favour of the tournament hosts, which caused widespread discontent among European teams. Such cases created a foundation for further changes in the rules of football and the introduction of new technologies of game control, such as VAR, but even this system is not without its flaws and remains the subject of controversy.

Some scandals have involved corruption in football federations. Consider the high-profile investigations into FIFA, which revealed bribes in the selection of World Cup host countries. This undermined the credibility of the organisation and led to the arrests of senior officials. Club football was not without corruption - kickbacks for transfers, manipulation of financial reports and tax evasion became commonplace. These processes have led to serious litigation, changes in the structure of football governance and the introduction of stricter standards of financial control.

Corruption and match-fixing

Match-fixing remains one of football's darkest chapters. In Italy, the famous Calciopoli scandal broke in 2006 when it emerged that top clubs, including Juventus, had negotiated with referees to get the right results. This led to Juve being demoted to a lower league and dozens of people being penalised. However, this was just one example of the corruption that permeates the football world.

Similar scandals have surfaced in other countries including Russia, Germany and Brazil, undermining confidence in the integrity of football. In some cases, players, coaches and even referees have been bribed to ‘favour’ match outcomes. This is especially evident in the lower leagues, where betting on matches is often part of criminal schemes. Match-fixing has existed for decades, and even modern VAR technology is not always able to eliminate this problem. In modern football, despite stringent measures, such cases continue to occur, and match-fixing scandals are regularly in the news.

In addition to club competitions, match-fixing has also been seen in international tournaments, raising questions about the integrity of the refereeing system and the influence of political and financial factors on the game. Even if such schemes are exposed, the punishment is often insufficient and the perpetrators find new ways to circumvent the bans.

Top 10 most scandalous footballers

1. Diego Maradona - The Hand of God and Drugs

The legendary Argentinian, brilliant on the pitch and scandalous off it. In 1986 his ‘Hand of God’ helped beat England at the World Cup, but later his career was derailed by drug problems. Suspensions, fines and controversial statements have made him one of the most controversial figures in football. Despite all the scandals, his play and influence on the world stage remains unrivalled.

2. Luis Suarez - The Biter of Bites

The Uruguayan striker has been caught in scandals for biting opponents three times (!). Ottman Bakkal, Branislav Ivanovic and Giorgio Chiellini have all suffered. The last episode at the 2014 World Cup resulted in a lengthy disqualification. Despite this, he continued his career at the highest level and even won numerous titles with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

3- Eric Cantona - Fan Kicking

Manchester United's French forward made history not only as an outstanding player, but also as a man who didn't hold back his emotions. In 1995, he jumped and kicked a Crystal Palace fan, which led to a disqualification and a huge fine. This incident came to symbolise his rebellious nature, but also cemented his status as an iconic footballer.

4. Paolo Di Canio - Repelling the referee

The Italian midfielder had a violent temper on more than one occasion, but his most notorious scandal came in 1998 when he pushed a referee, for which he received an 11-match suspension. Despite this, he was loved for his charisma and style of play. Later he worked as a coach, but his explosive character played a cruel joke on him again.

5. Joey Barton - Fights and Crime

Barton was known for his toughness on the field, but the real trouble was off it. He beat up a teammate, assaulted a teenager and even received jail time. His career ended with multiple disqualifications. In addition, he was repeatedly involved in scandals related to bookmaker betting, which only aggravated his reputation.

6. Adam Johnson - The scandal that led to prison

In 2016, the English footballer found himself at the centre of a major scandal that resulted in criminal penalties. The once promising Manchester City and England player never returned to professional football again . This case has become one of the most high-profile examples of the downfall of a star athlete.

7. Adriano - Falling from the top

The Brazilian striker showed great promise, but after leaving Inter, his life went downhill. Alcohol, partying and links to crime ruined the career of one of the most talented forwards of his generation. Despite attempts to return to football, his career was never revived.

8. Mario Balotelli - The eternal rebel

The Italian has always been known for his eccentric behaviour. He set off fireworks in the bathroom, fought with coaches and ignored discipline. His talent was undeniable, but scandals prevented him from realising his full potential. Despite this, he continued his career, occasionally reminding himself with highlights.

9. Roy Keane - Toughness without boundaries

Manchester United legend and one of the toughest players in history. In 2001, he deliberately caused a serious injury to Alf-Inge Holand, which effectively ended the Norwegian's career. He later admitted that he did it deliberately. Keane is also remembered for his constant conflicts with coaches and players.

10. Neymar - Simulations and conflicts

The modern footballstar is known not only for his playing qualities, but also for his penchant for simulations, scandals with coaches and high-profile transfers. His transfer to PSG was the most expensive in history, but was accompanied by legal proceedings and constant rumours of a return to Barcelona. His reputation is mixed, but his talent remains undeniable.

Scandalous transfers

Football transfers are always big money, but sometimes the deals are accompanied by such scandals that they are talked about for years. One of the most high-profile cases is Luis Figo's transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000. This transfer was hated by the Catalan club's fans and when Figo returned to the Camp Nou in a Madrid shirt, everything from bottles to a pig's head was thrown on the pitch.

Another high-profile case was the transfer of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to West Ham. This transfer was accompanied by a breach of FIFA rules, as the rights to the players belonged to a third party - an investment fund. As a result, the club was fined £5.5 million and the conflict with Sheffield United escalated into court proceedings.

But perhaps the most high-profile scandal of the 21st century was the transfer of Neymar from Barcelona to PSG for 222 million euros. The Catalans were sure that the Brazilian would stay, but the French club took advantage of a loophole in the contract and bought the player, which became the most expensive transfer in history. The transfer sparked a slew of legal disputes, with Barça demanding compensation for breach of contract.

Football and politics

Football has always intersected with politics. One of the most famous cases is the 1942 death match, when Kiev players refused to lose to a German team during the occupation. Many players were arrested and some were executed.

Another major political scandal was Argentina's participation in the 1978 World Cup. Then the military junta regime used the tournament for propaganda, and the national team won under pressure from the authorities. There were rumours that the match with Peru (6:0) was a contractual one, as the Peruvians received financial assistance from the Argentine government.

Also, we cannot forget the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Both tournaments were accompanied by scandals: in the first case, there was talk of the Russian government interfering in FIFA's affairs, and in the second about the violation of migrant workers' rights in the construction of stadiums.

Refereeing errors that changed the history of football

Refereeing mistakes are often the cause of scandals. For example, Diego Maradona's famous ‘Hand of God’ in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England. The referee did not see that the Argentine scored a goal with his hand, and this moment is still one of the most discussed in the history of football.

Another famous episode is the 2005 Champions League final, when Liverpool made an unbelievable kambak against AC Milan. At one point Steven Gerrard earned a penalty, but many experts believe that there was no offence on Gattuso's part.

And in the 2010 FIFA World Cup the referee did not count Frank Lampard's clean goal in the match against Germany, when the ball completely crossed the goal line. This moment was the reason for the introduction of Goal-Line technology.

Footballers who have gone to prison

Sometimes footballers commit crimes for which they end up behind bars. One of the most famous examples is Adam Johnson, who got 6 years in prison in 2016 for having an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Another shocking case is Brendo de Souza, the former Flamengo goalkeeper who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend.

Joey Barton, known for his hard-hitting style, has also been on trial several times. In 2008, he was convicted of assault and spent 74 days in jail.

How do football scandals affect betting odds?

Football scandals have a huge impact on the betting industry. For example, when the doping scandal surrounding Andrei Arshavin broke in 2008, the odds on the Russian national team to win changed dramatically.

Another example is Lionel Messi's tax evasion case. When information about the trial surfaced in the media, many bookmakers changed the odds on the likelihood of his transfer to another club.

Sometimes high-profile scandals can completely change the situation in the betting market. For example, after Cristiano Ronaldo found himself at the centre of a sexual assault investigation in 2018, many bookmakers stopped taking bets on his possible move from Real Madrid to Juventus.

Footballers involved in doping scandals

Doping in football is not as widespread as in cycling or athletics, but there have been high-profile revelations. One of the most famous cases was Diego Maradona's doping scandal at the 1994 World Cup. After one of the matches, ephedrine was found in his blood and he was disqualified.

Another scandal occurred in 2001 when Josep Guardiola, then a Brescia player, was found to be using banned substances. Despite lengthy court proceedings, he was found guilty and it put a mark on his reputation.

We should not forget about Andrey Arshavin, who was accused of taking banned substances during Euro 2008. Although the doping tests did not confirm the accusations, the talk about this scandal did not subside.

Footballers accused of racism

Racism in football is one of the most pressing issues in modern sport. In recent decades, there have been numerous cases of footballers or coaches at the centre of scandals involving racist remarks.

One of the most high-profile cases is the conflict between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra in 2011. Suarez called Evra an offensive word during a match, for which he was disqualified for 8 matches and fined.

Another famous case happened in 2011 with John Terry, the captain of Chelsea. He was accused of making racist remarks about Anton Ferdinand. The court found Terry not guilty, but the Football Association of England still disqualified him for 4 matches.

Matches that ended in mass brawls

Football sometimes gets out of control, and instead of a sporting struggle begins a real beating.

For example, in 2006 the match between Argentina and Germany at the 2006 World Cup ended in a mass brawl after a penalty shootout. Several players were disqualified.

Another memorable incident occurred in the 2018 Libertadores Cup final between River Plate and Boca Juniors. Rivera fans attacked Boca's bus, which led to the match being delayed and the final itself had to be moved to Madrid.

Conclusion

Scandalous stories are an integral part of football, just like the element of risk in the world of gambling. Whether it's an unbelievable comeback or a high-profile failure, emotions are at an all-time high. It is this unpredictability that makes football and sports betting so exciting.