Top Lists
Biggest Controversies in Sports History
This article contains the biggest controversies in sports history, along with how the revelations of some of this scandals have left an indelible mark on fans and audience around the world.
Sports is full of drama and excitement, captivating countless fans. But let’s not forget that athletes, despite their fame, are human too. They make mistakes just like the rest of us.
The biggest controversies in sports history capture immense fan and media attention, largely due to the involved player or game’s popularity. However, it’s the scandals, dramas, and conflicts that occur during competitions or in athletes’ lives that truly captivate audiences. These events have a significant impact on the sports world and leave a lasting impression on both fans and critics alike.
In sports history, controversial events often revolve around cheating, criminal charges, doping, match-fixing, gambling, and questionable decisions by officials. These incidents hold significant importance, especially for people, children, and society as athletes serve as role models.
Though there is no ranking to the placement of the controversies on this list we, however, we wish to consider this list with the 10 biggest controversies in sports history in no particular order.
Biggest Controversies in Sports History
This is the list of the biggest drama, scandals, and controversies in sports history.
1. The Disgrace of Gijón
This is one of the biggest and most notable controversies in sports history. The Gijon scandal took place during the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain between West Germany and Austria.
In the final match of Group 2, West Germany and Austria faced each other. Meanwhile, both teams knew the specific result they needed to advance. That is, if West Germany won by one or two goals, both teams would qualify. If West Germany won by three or more goals, Algeria would also advance. But a draw or an Austrian win would eliminate West Germany.
The match ended with a 1-0 win for West Germany, securing their qualification along with Austria. However, the game was heavily criticized as it appeared both teams had colluded to prevent Algeria from advancing.
Fans at the stadium expressed their dissatisfaction, and even a commentator advised viewers to switch off their TVs. The match between West Germany and Austria known as “The Disgrace of Dijón,” is the reason that prompted FIFA to introduce simultaneous final group stage matches to prevent such situations in the future.
2. O.J. Simpson Murder Case
Biggest Controversies in Sports History
OJ Simpson murder scandal is an infamous one, if this list is ranked least to most it would have been the first as most people would say this is the biggest controversy in sports history. Although the murder case isn’t directly related to sports activities it surrounded a very popular and influential athlete.
In 1994, a shocking event involving O.J. Simpson captivated the sports world and left a profound impact on many people. Simpson was accused of murdering his wife and another man, leading to an unbelievable series of events.
Meanwhile, during a live TV broadcast, Simpson embarked on a lengthy and extraordinary car chase, leaving viewers in disbelief. Eventually, he was apprehended and faced trial in federal court. Despite compelling DNA evidence and inconsistencies in his story, Simpson was controversially acquitted after a nine-month trial, creating one of the most infamous court verdicts in recent history.
3. BloodGate
Biggest Scandals in Sports History
In the 2009 Heineken Cup Quarter Final, a controversial incident occurred involving Harlequins wing Tom Williams, who pretended to have a blood injury to allow Nick Evans to return to the game. Further investigation revealed similar incidents in the team’s recent history, leading to severe consequences. Williams received a 12-month ban, director of rugby Dean Richards was banned for 3 years, and physio Steph Brennan faced a 2-year ban. The club chairman resigned, and the club narrowly avoided being expelled from the Heineken Cup.
Although not like the case of OJ Simpson the BloodGate scandal exposed the level to which athletes and management will go to fake things, can you imagine faking a blood injury, certainly not!
4. The Hand of God Maradona
Biggest Sports Controversies of All Time
Every game has its rules and one that everyone is familiar with in the game of soccer is that a player cannot by any means use their hands to play the game. Well, Maradon who is considered one of the greatest ever in the game outdid himself and proves he is indeed worth the title many have bestowed on him as the GOAT. In the 1986 FIFA World Cup match between England and Argentina, Diego Maradona use his hand to score one of the most controversial goals in football history.
In the 51st minute of the match at 0-0, Maradona, possibly the greatest footballer ever, used his hand to score a goal, which was allowed by the referee, Ali Bin Nasser. His teammates were unsure, but Maradona convinced the referee. He later admitted to cheating, referring to the goal as “A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” This incident, known as the “Hand of God,” remains one of the biggest controversies in sports and FIFA World Cup history.
5. Lance Armstrong Doping Scandal
Biggest Sporting Scandals
Lance Armstrong who was one of the most popular names in sports history was involved in one of the biggest scandals of the century and his story explores his rise, fall, and redemption. Well, most people probably know Armstrong to be one of the greatest professional road racing cyclists ever as he achieved international fame for winning the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005.
As his career blossomed, so did the doping allegations against him. Despite years of denial, the United States Anti-Doping Agency ultimately proved that Armstrong had used banned substances like EPO, HGH, and blood doping. He lost his titles and was banned for life from cycling. Once adored by the American public, he fell from grace as his reputation crumbled.
Armstrong argued that others were also doping, and he was just leveling the playing field. Many past Tour de France winners faced similar accusations, suggesting a widespread problem in the sport. The prevalence of doping among past winners supports this possibility, with just one clean Tour de France champion between 1998 and 2010.
6. The Hand of God Suarez
Biggest Cheating Scandals in Sports History
Luis Suarez who is one of the most talented players in the world of soccer created what was known as the Second Hand of God, creating one of the biggest controversies of the century in football history. Like every game with its rules soccer is not one that employs the use of hands for its players, but we have seen players who have to turn the tides by using their hands and Suarez is one of those players,
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez was red-carded for blocking a potential game-winning goal with his hands. As a result, Ghana missed the penalty, and Uruguay won the shootout. Suarez later humorously claimed, “I made the save of the tournament… The ‘Hand of God’ now belongs to me.”
7. The 1972 Olympic Men’s Basketball Final
This is one that most people will remember as it still resonates in the minds of many who are over the age of 60. This is one of the moments in sports that begs the question of fairness of the sport and the strand and morality of the refereeing.
Basketball is hugely popular and highly regarded in America and because of that, left an indelible mark on many of the audience of the game, scaring them for decades. The US Men’s Basketball team dominated the Olympics from 1936 to 1972, winning every game.
However, their streak ended in 1972 due to a referee’s error. The referee added three extra seconds to the clock, helping the Soviet Union to win by one point. The US team, disappointed by the mismanagement, declined to accept their silver medals and remains firm in their decision to this day.
8. Pete Rose’s Gambling Scandal
Famous Sports Scandals in History
Pete Rose, the legendary baseball player, and manager, faced one of the biggest controversies in sports history due to his involvement in gambling. He was banned from baseball for betting on games, including those involving his team, the Cincinnati Reds.
Despite his remarkable achievements on the field, like winning awards and championships, his ban remains a barrier to his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Although Rose admitted to gambling, he however denied betting against his own team a claim which has sparked ongoing debates and discussions about his potential reinstatement into the Hall of Fame.
9. Harding Attacks Kerrigan
Sports Controversies of All Time
Kerrigan attack is one of the biggest controversies in sports history. This scandal revealed the level to which athletes will go just to cliche a win or victory. The controversy shows if given the right condition people can murder a fellow competitor just to get a trophy.
In 1994, figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan were fierce rivals, but no one suspected the dark twist that would unfold. Just before the US Figure Skating Championships, Kerrigan was brutally attacked by a man, leaving her in agonizing pain. Suspicion arose, and Harding eventually confessed that her ex-husband and bodyguard conspired to break Kerrigan’s leg.
Despite a ban initially, Harding returned to skating after legal threats. In the following Olympics, Kerrigan won a silver medal while Harding placed eighth. Investigations however revealed the truth, and Harding tearfully pleaded guilty. She was stripped of her 1994 championship, fined $160,000, given probation, and banned from the sport. The shocking incident highlighted the dark side of sports rivalry.
10. Tiger Wood Infidelity
The 35 Biggest Scandals, Controversies, and Conspiracies in Sports History
Tiger Wood’s infidelity shook the the whole world, although not directly related to the game of golf, it however involves one of the biggest sportsmen in sport history Wood himself who is perhaps the most popular athlete in the 21 century and most gifted golfer of his time.
Wood was a dominant and highly-paid athlete, winning numerous championships and gracing the covers of sports magazines. However, his image took a severe hit when his extramarital affairs with multiple women were exposed, leading to a messy divorce and a major decline in his career.
After a public scandal, Woods took an indefinite leave from golf, and despite his previous successes, he hasn’t been able to regain his former glory. The incident that triggered it all was his wife chasing him with a golf club after discovering his intimate text messages with another woman. Although for more than a decade, Wood didn’t win any major golf tournaments, however, his last major triumph came in 2019 when he ended an 11-year drought by winning the Masters.
BONUS
The 2000 Spanish Paralympic Basketball Team
During the 2000 Paralympics, the Spanish Basketball Team won the Gold Medal. However, a shocking revelation came to light when a Spanish journalist exposed that most of the players had not been properly checked for a mental disability.
Meanwhile, subsequent investigations confirmed that 10 out of the 12 players were not mentally disabled, and Spain had resorted to this deceitful tactic to win the gold medal and attract more sponsorships. Cheating at the Paralympics is a disgraceful act, and this incident remains one of the most shocking controversies in sports history.