As with any high-profile sporting event, controversy has never been far from football's World Cup in it's 84 year history and there have been plenty of scandals to grab the media's attention for weeks and weeks.
Here are the 5 biggest scandals in World Cup history!
Mussolini and Hitler's Cup, 1938
A year out from the start of the Second World War, the World Cup was held in France, and world events clearly dampened the atmosphere. Austria was no more, having been annexed by Nazi Germany while Spain were banned because of the ongoing Civil War in their country. Uruguay and Argentina shied away, fuming that the World Cup was held in Europe for the second tournament in a row. Italy won to Mussolini's delight while Nazi's Germany fell to Switzerland in a replay.
The Goal That Wasn't, 1966
England's only World Cup win came in 1966 will forever be associated with the furore over Geoff Hurst's 2nd goal that wasn't a goal. This was well before the days of hawkeyes, ultra slow-mo and replays so the linesman's call was pretty much it. Hurst's shot hit the crossbar and bounced apparently over the line for a goal - or so it seemed. Recent television analysis has shown that the ball just dissected the line and hadn't completely crossed the line - not a goal then.
Alas, the Germans would quietly get their comeuppance 44 years later in South Africa when Frank Lampard's shot clearly crossed the line but wasn't given as a goal in their 2nd round game.
Hand of God, 1986
Maradona and ardent Argentines will say it was divine intervention. Everyone else will say it was blatant cheating. Argentina's mercurial number 10 definitely got his fist to the ball as Peter Shilton came to collect - the only way it would have gone in.
Just as well that Maradona made up for it with a fine solo goal cutting through the English defence. There was no doubt that Argentina deserved to win, 2-1 the final scoreline, but it remains that, that hand of God was the difference. Perhaps enough karma to make up for the Falklands then?
Murder over an Oggie, 1994
USA v Colombia. Having been the favourites going into USA 1994, Colombia needed to beat the hosts to stay alive in the tournament. John Harkes' cross comes in and Andres Escobar unfortunately puts the ball into his own net.
His misfortune would prove to be terminal. Colombia lost the game 2-1 and exited the World Cup. Days after their ignominious return, Escobar was shot dead outside a bar in Medellin. The world was shocked at the revelation.
That Headbutt, 2006
Did Marco mock Zizou's sister, mother, country? The speculation was rife after Zinedine Zidane's completely unexpected headbutt of Italian defender, Marco Materazzi in the World Cup Final. Zidane, who was voted Player of the Tournament prior to the Final, isn't the most angelic of players but this headbutt was absolutely sensational and the jokes would last for days. Whether it cost France a 2nd World Cup win is debatable, but the shock certainly was palpable.
And for the record, it was Zizou's sister as Marco admitted later.
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