Top 10 unforgettable football scandals​ in history

Football is involved in its fair share of scandals; after all, it is a lucrative and widely watched sport, so controversial sports are bound to have their fair share of controversy. While there are football players who have admirable morals and are role models for others off the pitch, many of them have had affairs and other inappropriate behaviours that have made them and those around them look bad when they were discovered. Here are the top 10 football scandals​ and controversies in football history that Kingsoccertips has compiled:

Top 10 scandals in world football

1. Calciopoli scandal (2006)

The allegations surrounding the 2006 Calciopoli scandal, which involved several major Italian clubs allegedly influencing the selection of referees for their matches, among other things, sent shockwaves through the football world. Juventus, the 2005 and 2006 champions, lost their title and were demoted to Serie B, where they played one season before quickly returning to the top flight.

While Juventus faced stiff penalties for their involvement, AC Milan and several other teams should feel lucky that they did not face more serious consequences. The event had a significant impact on Italian and international football, and since then, more safety measures have been put in place in the sport.

2. Florentino perez slams Real Madrid legends in leaked audio tapes

Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo could be forgiven for thinking that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would appreciate their service to the club. After all, the pair helped Los Blancos beat one of the greatest clubs in history, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, ​​in a dramatic La Liga clash in the 2011–12 season.

Rather than offering warm congratulations, Perez called Mourinho and Ronaldo “idiots” and “abnormal” in a series of audio leaks made public by El Confidencial. The audio tapes from the 2006 leak were first discovered in July 2021. Speaking of Cristiano Ronaldo, Perez said:

“Ronaldo is crazy. He’s an idiot; he’s sick. You think he’s normal, but he’s not. If he were normal, he wouldn’t do all the things he does”.

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3. Referee Robert Hoyzer’s match-fixing scandal

The German Football Association suspected German referee Robert Hoyzer of rigging a cup match involving Hamburg, leading to him being investigated. He initially denied the accusations but later admitted his guilt and pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation. He awarded two penalties to Hamburg and sent off a Hamburg player in the Hamburg vs. Paderborn match that is the subject of the DFB investigation.

4. The unfortunate murder of Andres Escobar

It is widely believed that the murder of Colombian defender Andres Escobar occurred in July 1994, shortly after the team was eliminated from the World Cup due to an own goal. It is possible that a group of drug dealers gambled against the side that the respected defender was targeted and lost money. Obviously it was an unfortunate mistake that even the best defenders in the game can make sometimes, and it was tragic that he was killed. We can only pray that things like this don’t happen again.

5. Wayne Rooney’s affair with Jenny Thomson

It was alleged that Wayne Rooney slept with a prostitute while his wife Coleen Rooney was pregnant, leaving him facing a very difficult period. After a dismal World Cup, many reports were reported in the media, this was another setback for the former Manchester United striker. The striker then lost his form for several months and had a long-running contract dispute with Manchester United before agreeing to sign a new contract with the Red Devils.

6. Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and underage prostitute Zahia Dehar

Zahia Dehar, a young prostitute, was the subject of a sex scandal involving Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema and Sidney Govou. She was accused of having sex with each of the footballers when she was under eighteen, however, Ribery and the other players maintained that they did not know her age at the time of the incidents. She expressed surprise that they would be charged in the future, saying that they were all friendly with her.

7. Police arrest former Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu after Camp Nou raid

Josep Bartomeu, the former president of Barcelona, ​​went one step further and was arrested after the club fell into financial trouble. The situation became worse when it was discovered that the former president had hired a social media company to publicly criticize the team’s players and staff.

In early March 2021, Catalan authorities invaded the Camp Nou as Barcelona was drowning in debts of more than a billion euros. Roman Gomez Ponti, the club’s head of legal services, and Oscar Grau, a senior executive, were also arrested.

The financial scandal had dire consequences for Barcelona, ​​as they quickly lost their beloved Lionel Messi. The team could not make an offer for him without violating La Liga’s financial fair play regulations.

Under new president Laporta, the club has lost €481 million and has a negative net worth of €451 million. For this reason, renegotiating player contracts is a challenge.

8. Dani Alves sexual assault

Dani Alves, the former Barcelona and Brazil player, was arrested in Spain in January after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub. Alves angrily denied any wrongdoing and insisted the encounter was consensual. He was convicted of sexual assault in February 2024 and sentenced to four and a half years in prison, a sentence he has already served for just over a year.

9. Bruno Fernandes’ love affair ends in murder

This is one of the most unfortunate cases of hasty decisions; ideally, this would never happen again. This is not about Man United’s Bruno, by the way.

Bruno Fernandes’ ex-girlfriend Eliza Samudio was reportedly pregnant on their first date, and Fernandes was furious when she chose to keep the child. Flamengo’s guardian was furious with her persistence after he threatened her several times.

He and retired police officer Santos then allegedly lured Samadio to the location where she was murdered. Despite being one of Brazil’s best goalkeepers, the Flamengo goalkeeper’s future was certainly affected by this unfortunate event. This is the worst football scandal in the world of football.

10. Israel’s joy after 8-0 defeat

After Israel lost their European play-off against Denmark 8-0 on aggregate, former coach Shlomo Scharf announced his resignation, saying he was “deeply shocked” by the players’ behaviour. The poor manager was shocked to learn that the players had invited call girls to their hotel in Israel before the match and had travelled to Copenhagen before the return leg.

A few final words

Football scandals have left an indelible mark on the sport, revealing both its global appeal and its vulnerabilities. From the seismic Calciopoli scandal that reshaped Italian football to shocking cases involving financial misconduct and personal controversies, these incidents highlight the darker side of the game. While the sport continues to inspire millions worldwide, such scandals serve as a reminder of the importance of integrity in maintaining its reputation. Despite the undeniable achievements on the field, football’s image can be tarnished by actions off it, emphasizing the need for accountability at all levels.

See more: The 2006 Italian football scandal: A shocking turn