Today we are discussing the 8th most controversial game.

Everette Hatcher picks the Germany v. USA game in 2002.

2002 World Cup Quarter Finals: Germany vs United States

Close call on hand-ball: In the 49th minute of Friday’s Germany-United States World Cup quarterfinal, a shot by American Gregg Berhalter bounced off German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and hit the left arm of German defender Torsten Frings, who was standing on the goal line.

Scottish referee Hugh Dallas did not call a hand-ball on Frings. While Dallas might not have seen Frings touch the ball, even if the referee had, he would not be obligated to issue the United States a penalty kick.

According to Law 12 of the International Football Association Board’s Laws of the Game, the rulebook for soccer:

“A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player … handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area). … A penalty kick is awarded if the above offense is committed by a player inside his own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play.”

However, if in the referee’s opinion the ball hit Frings’ arm inadvertently, then he need not make a call, as a later note explains:

“If the ball strikes the defender accidentally, no offense is committed.”

Wilson picks the  West Germany v Austria in 1982. Here is some info off the internet below. 

West Germany 1 Austria 0 (1982)

West Germany had lost to Algeria (England beware)  but needed just a 1-0 win to go through at the Africans’ expense along with Austria. A 2-0 win would see Austria go home.

So happened the Nichtangriffspakt von Gijón (non-aggression pact of Gijon)…Horst Hrubesch put Germany 1-0 after ten minutes and after this neither side even tried to score a goal, resulting in 80 minutes of ‘after you’ football.

Tears were shed by Algeria and FIFA ruled after this that all final group matches must always be played at the same time to avoid a repeat.

Video: Even the Germans were unimpressed

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1 Geoff Hurst’s third goal in World Cup final (1966)

Of course it crossed the line. End of debate. Apart from the bits of the ball that might not have done.Possibly.  When I met Geoff Hurst he told me the ball WAS over the line. When I met Franz Beckenbauer he told me it wasn’t. I know who I believe. A clear case of getting it right – well done lino…

Video: The whole ball enters the designated net area with malice aforethought

Bonus feature: how Brian Moore described it on the radio

2 Diego Maradona’s Hand of God (1986)

The fact the referee’s suspicions were not aroused by the fact that 5ft 2in Maradona was able to outjump man mountain Peter Shilton says more about him than the Argentinian wizard. He got away with it. Big time.

Cheating on a biblical scale will never be condoned anyone in this country – unless of course, Wayne Rooney does if for England this year to win the final.

Video: ‘Major controversy…’

3 Harald Schumacher v Patrick Battiston (1982)

We all adopted the French after England bowed out without losing a game in Spain. Their semi-final against West Germany was one of the best World Cup matches ever.

France let a 3-1 extra time lead slip before losing on penalties but the only talking point was how German keeper Harald Schumacher managed to avoid a booking/red card/prison sentence for his disgraceful charge into the clean-though Battiston who lost teeth, consciousness and broke ribs and spinal bones having shot wide. France didn’t even get a free-kick.

Video: Ooh la-la! C’est GBH ou ABH…

4 Kuwait v France (1982)

There was a whistle in the crowd just before Alain Giresse scored for France.

So incensed were the players that the goal was allowed to stand they complained. Then the head of the Kuwaiti FA took his players off in protest until the goal was wiped out. Which it was. Incredibly. But France still won 4-1.

Video: Referee rules out goal under Giresse

5 Argentina 6 Peru 0 (1978)

Argentina had to win by four goals to make the World Cup final in front of their own fans at the expense of bitter rivals Brazil. Peru missed a couple of early sitters. Cue another stunning evening. Accusations about this match have been rife since it finished but nothing has been proven.

Video: Noise, noise, goals and tickertape…

6  Zidane headbutt on Materazzi (2006)

Zinedine Zidane’s last-ever match ended in shame when he head-butted poor old Marco during the World Cup Final itself, the Italian left to rue that snide comment he made about the Leaning Tower of Pisa being far than Eiffel’s rubbish effort.

Video: Come here and say that…

7 Clive Thomas disallowing Brazil goal v Sweden (1978)

Clive always did it by the book and allowed just eight seconds of injury time during which time Nelinho’s corner was headed home by Zico. However, just a nanosecond before Zico’s curls made ball contact Thomas blew for full time, waving away protesting Brazilians with a flourish of his watch.

Don’t think Mr Thomas will ever be welcome in the bars of Rio but he’s a big hero in Stockholm.

Video: Who says referees don’t have a sense of humour?

8 Willie Johnston/Diego Maradona sent home for drugs

After Scotland lurched to a 3-1 defeat to Peru in 1978,  the team were rocked by scandal when West Brom’s Willie Johnston failed a drugs test and was sent home, never to play for his country again.

If his alleged drugs taking had had a de-enhancing effect, the ones Diego Maradona took at the 1994 Finals were the complete opposite.

The Argentinian legend scored against Greece then ran bug-eyed and screaming at the camera. He failed a drugs test soon afterwards and was sent home.

Video: What big eyes you’ve got Diego…

9. The Battle of Santiago (1962)

When 1962 hosts Chile took on the shrinking violets Italy, the BBC’s David Coleman described what happened as ‘the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football, possibly in the history of the game.’

For the record, Chile won 2-0 but here’s a breakdown of events:-

• In the lead-up to the match, two Italian journalists were misquoted to whip up Chilean fervour in a country still reeling from a massive earthquake two years. The journos had to leave the country for their own safety.
• The first foul came after 12 seconds.
• English referee Ken Aston sent off Italy’s Giorgio Ferrini after 12 minutes for a foul on Honorino Landa.
• Ferrini refused to leave pitch and had to be dragged off by police
• Ferrini was then punched by Landa but not sent off.
• Chile’s Leonel Sanchez then punched Mario David but was not dismissed.
• David got his own back by booting Sanchez in the head and getting sent off. Sanchez struck David again as he walked off but was not sent off.
• In the resulting melee, 11 Chileans attempted to lay waste to nine Italians. Sanchez broke Humberto Maschio’s with a neat left hook but again was not sent off.
• Police had to come and separate players who were by spitting at each other as well as punching and shoving.
• Police were forced to break up fighting players two more times before the end.

Video: Seconds out, round one – complete with outraged Coleman

10 West Germany 1 Austria 0 (1982)

West Germany had lost to Algeria (England beware)  but needed just a 1-0 win to go through at the Africans’ expense along with Austria. A 2-0 win would see Austria go home.

So happened the Nichtangriffspakt von Gijón (non-aggression pact of Gijon)…Horst Hrubesch put Germany 1-0 after ten minutes and after this neither side even tried to score a goal, resulting in 80 minutes of ‘after you’ football.

Tears were shed by Algeria and FIFA ruled after this that all final group matches must always be played at the same time to avoid a repeat.

Video: Even the Germans were unimpressed