6 Most Infamous World Cup Red Cards
The World Cup is the scene of some of football's greatest moments. From memorable goals to unlikely triumphs, it is the biggest stage that a professional footballer can ever reach in their career.
Where there is a platform for such enormous fame and success, though, infamy and defeat also travels hand in hand. The World Cup has also seen its fair share of incidents that those involved would rather see forgotten.
Topping the list of infamy, of course, is the red card. In front of the massive worldwide audience that the competition offers, several players have become famed more for being sent from the pitch than any other action on it.
From Placido Galindo's first World Cup red card in 1930 to John Heitinga in the 2010 final against Spain, the World Cup has been the scene of some of football's most infamous dismissals.
Others may be more violent or more callous, but few dismissals can match the relative fame of those that take place at the world football showcase.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at six of the most infamous dismissals in World Cup history.
Honourable Mentions
1 of 7Antonio Rattin (Vs. England, 1966)
The starting point of the ferocious England Vs. Argentina rivalry in which, during a particularly aggressive display from the South Americans, Rattin was dismissed for allegedly using bad language with the referee. The claim remains disputed while the player famously refused to leave the pitch.
The Uruguayan receives the fastest red card in World Cup history after being dismissed for a reckless lunge after just 40 seconds of the encounter in Mexico.
With Cameroon leading 1-0 heading into the final minute against Argentina, Massing displays reckless abandon to ensure that Claudio Cannigia will not have the opportunity to pull a goal back for his side.
The affable Paris Saint-Germain director is known for his polished image these days but when he does snap he seemingly is no longer Mr. Nice Guy. A vicious elbow to the face of USA defender Tab Ramos earned him a well-deserved red card.
The notoriously hot-headed Dutch striker sees red after an elbow on Belgian defender Lorenzo Staelens who had marked him effectively all game.
The Argentine playmaker was looking for a penalty that would have swung the encounter in his team's favour but instead lifted himself up and planted a headbutt on the unfortunate Edwin van der Sat.
French centre-back Laurent Blanc would miss the final of the 1998 World Cup after what can only be described as a brilliant piece of playacting from West Ham United legend Slaven Bilic.
The unfortunate Turkish full-back saw red in the Group Stage of the 2002 World Cup after kicking the ball at Rivaldo, who collapsed in a heap holding his face. The ball, though, had clearly hit him on the thigh.
This one was infamous on the part of the referee rather than the player, with English official Graham Poll managing to book Simunic three times before he eventually saw red.
No. 6: Wayne Rooney (Vs. Portugal, 2006)
2 of 7A red card as infamous for the Cristiano Ronaldo wink as for the actual incident, but another card that ultimately saw English World Cup dreams collapse in what was a winnable encounter.
Wayne Rooney is a tenacious player, that is well known. But, in the midst of what was some commendable determination to keep possession, the England player treads on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho in a tender area.
Rooney would, of course, see red for the incident. But, it was the reaction of Ronaldo that prompted some to suggest there would be tension between the duo.
As it happens, the pair remain on good terms to this day and would go on to achieve great success together at Manchester United.
Portugal were aware of Rooney's volatile temperament and played on that fact. It may not be good sportsmanship, but it is all part of the important mental side to top-level professional football.
No. 5: Diego Maradona (Vs. Brazil, 1982)
3 of 7In the 85th minute of a second round World Cup clash between Brazil and Argentina in 1982, a certain Diego Armando Maradona wrote his name into the annals of World Cup infamy—it wouldn't be the last time either!
With his side heading to a 3-1 defeat to Brazil, although the Argentines were yet to score, Maradona would see red for what was a vicious kick at the groin area of Brazilian midfielder Batista.
Poor Batista had only been on as a substitute for a matter of minutes but felt the full force of El Diego's annoyance at the Albiceleste's plight. He would miss his side's final fixture of the tournament.
Four years later, though, redemption would be in store as the playmaker inspired his side to World Cup success in Mexico.
No. 4: Rudi Voller & Frank Rijkaard (West Germany vs. Netherlands, 1990)
4 of 7Poor old Rudi Voller didn't do much wrong in this infamous incident. With Rijkaard having been booked for a rough tackle on the German, Voller was then also booked for protesting that he had been spat on by the Dutchman.
Then, from the resulting free-kick, Voller would dive to avoid a collision with the goalkeeper which incensed the Dutch players. Rijkaard led the protests and went over to Voller, allegedly twisting his ear on the ground.
The pair would then square up which was the final straw for the referee who showed both players red cards. Not content, Rijkaard would once more spit at the German as the pair left the field together.
It's easy to see why the referee reacted quite how he did, but it is remembered as a particularly unfair decision for Voller.
The German would get his revenge, though, with his side winning the encounter and eventually going on to lift the World Cup trophy itself.
No. 3: Luis Suarez (Vs. Ghana, 2010)
5 of 7It is the red card that denied Ghana a place in the World Cup semifinals, a result which would have broken new ground for African football.
In front of a massive television audience, Suarez handles the ball on the goal-line in the final minute of extra-time to deny Ghana what would have been a 2-1 victory.
Cruelly for the underdogs, star striker Asamoah Gyan famously missed the resulting penalty, and it would be spot-kicks that would send the Uruguayans through to the semifinal.
It was unsportsmanlike, but also a handball that many other players would have committed. The lack of remorse and celebrations from Suarez that followed, though, only served to increase the wave of ill-feeling about his actions.
The Uruguayan's reputation has taken several bashings in recent years, but his actions in denying Ghana their rightful place in the last four of the World Cup will be one that lives long in the memory.
No. 2: David Beckham (Vs. Argentina, 1998)
6 of 7It was an incident that brought about a sizeable backlash in England, with effigies of Beckham even being burned in outrage at having "cost" his country a place in the quarterfinals. (Independent)
It was idiotic but an almost entirely forgettable misdemeanour in the context of some on this list. It was an incident, however, that threatened to define the Englishman's career.
Once more it was a case of a young player having been lulled into a rash kick (or flick, in this instance) out at an opposition player. His adversary, Diego Simeone, was renowned as a master of gamesmanship on the football pitch.
While the incident remains one of the most famous red cards in history, Beckham would emerge notably stronger for his vilification and go on to become a record-breaking England captain.
The young man who "let his country down" is now regarded as somewhat of a national icon and has become an almost revered figure worldwide.
Simeone, of course, is now manager of Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
No. 1: Zinedine Zidane (Vs. Italy, 2006)
7 of 7It is perhaps the most dramatic way that a player has ever chosen to retire from football.
Zinedine Zidane, having inspired France to the 2006 World Cup final, ended his career in ignominious style by planting a headbutt into the chest of Italian defender Marco Materazzi.
It later emerged that Materazzi had provoked Zidane with offensive comments about his sister (Guardian) and the Frenchman received much praise in his homeland despite possibly affecting their chances of success. (ESPN)
The incident's fame has been enduring due to the dramatic stage and story behind what is now an iconic World Cup moment. Indeed, Zidane's reputation has escaped unscathed even for his final act as a professional footballer.
The video clip of the red card has achieved a form of cult status, with parodies of Zidane's headbutt and Materazzi's exaggerated reaction flooding the Internet almost instantly.
It will certainly take quite some time for a World Cup red card to achieve quite such fame among society as a whole, rather than simply just football fans.
It was certainly an impressive way to bid farewell to your sporting career.
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