Soccer's Most Unsporting Moments of the 21st Century: Serie A, Mourinho and More

There was a time when being a "good sport" was as important as winning. Now, for most people, that is not the case. In the modern game, diving is a weekly occurrence while people are constantly confronting referees, getting in fights and cheating.

Out of all the incidents that occur, which are the worst?

Here's my list of 10 of the least sportsmanlike incidents since 2000. I'm sure I've missed out on ones that you think should be on here, so please feel free to put any you have in the comment section below.

Pepe Vs. Getafe

In the closing minutes of a La Liga match, with the score tied at 2-2, Real Madrid defender Pepe pushed Javier Casquero over in the penalty box, not the most sporting move in itself.

The penalty had already been awarded when he then kicked Casquero twice while he was on the ground, once in the shin, once in the back.

Pepe received a 10-match ban for losing his cool, but Real Madrid went on to win the match after Casquero missed the resulting penalty.

Drogba

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 06: Didier Drogba of Chelsea argues with the referee in front of caretaker manager of Chelsea Guus Hiddink after the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on May 6, 2009 i

In the 2009 Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Chelsea, referee Tom Henning Ovrebo made several decisions that infuriated the Chelsea team.

After the match, many of the players surrounded the referee, arguing with him about the decisions he had made. 

Didier Drogba, who had been substituted, came back onto the pitch and joined in with the complaining, taking it a bit further than the rest as he ran through his teammates to scream at Ovrebo as much as possible. Once Ovrebo had made his way off the pitch, Drogba had a quick look around for a camera before screaming something I won't repeat into the first camera he came across.

Drogba earned himself a four-match suspension, with a further two suspended, although his ban was reduced by one match. It wasn't only Drogba involved in this—Jose Boswinga also suffered the wrath of UEFA, receiving a three-game ban.

José Luis Chilavert

After a qualifying game for the 2002 World Cup, Paraguayan goalkeeper José Chilavert confronted Roberto Carlos and spat in his face right in front of a TV camera.

He later claimed that Carlos had called him an "Indian" in a derogatory way and that he had been consistently told by Brazilians that he was his side's weakest link.

Chilavert was banned for three matches, including the first match of the 2002 World Cup.

Celtic Vs. Rangers

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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 02: Neil Lennon coach of Celtic reacts with El Hadji Diouf #17 of Rangers during the Scottish Cup fifth round match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on March 2, 2011 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

One of Europe's fieriest rivalries, the Old Firm derby always produces hard-fought games.

Sometimes, however, it goes too far. It happened in 2004 and it has happened again in 2011. 

Three red cards for Rangers players in a recent cup game, as well as multiple confrontations, including one between Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist, as well as incidents earlier this season have led to a summit between the two clubs being arranged, chaired by the Scottish first minister, just as there was one back in 2004. 

Serie A Match Fixing Scandal

In 2006, Italian police uncovered a massive match-fixing plot involving some of Italy's largest teams, including AC Milan, Lazio and Juventus. It turned out that team officials had close relationships with referee organisations and were securing favourable referees for matches in order to better their chances of winning.

Juventus were demoted to Serie B and lost the league titles they had won over the previous two seasons, while AC Milan were deducted 30 points, Lazio were kicked out of the UEFA Cup and Fiorentina were banned from the next season's Champions League.

Investigations are still being carried out, including one into Gianluigi Buffon, the World Cup-winning goalkeeper. 

Luciano Gaucci

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DAEJEON - JUNE 18: Jung Hwan Ahn of South Korea heads the winning goal past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon of Italy during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Second Round match played at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium, in Daejeon, South Korea on June 18, 2002. S

This incident was pretty bizarre. During the 2002 World Cup, Ahn Jung-Hwan scored a golden goal against Italy, sending South Korea into the quarterfinals and knocking Italy out.

Ahn was on loan at Perugia, who were owned by Luciano Gaucci. After Ahn's goal, Gaucci declared that Ahn would never play for Perugia again as he had "ruined Italian football."

Gaucci fell from grace after Perugia went bankrupt in 2005 while Ahn plays in the Chinese Super League. 

Luis Suarez

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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 02: Luis Suarez of Uruguay handles the ball on the goal line, for which he is sent off, during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Quarter Final match between Uruguay and Ghana at the Soccer City stadium on July 2, 2010

Luis Suarez's last-minute goal-line save and handball in the World Cup quarterfinal against Ghana earned him the hatred of the whole of Ghana, as well as many others around the world.

Suarez was sent off, but rather than having a goal, Ghana had a penalty which Asamoah Gyan missed, effectively knocking the African side out of the World Cup. 

Thierry Henry

This incident, in the dying moments of France's playoff with Ireland in late 2009, sparked mass anger on the part of Ireland, and quite understandably.

The Irish FA lodged a formal complaint and asked for the match to be replayed. In fairness to Henry, he stated that a replay would be the fairest solution.

However, although Thierry Henry's handball took France to the World Cup and ended Ireland's hopes of making it to the tournament, France endured a terrible World Cup and are still dealing with the team difficulties they experienced during the tournament. 

Much like Suarez's handball, though, what would you have done in the same situation?

2010 World Cup Final

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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 11: Nigel De Jong of the Netherlands tackles Xabi Alonso of Spain with a kick in the chest during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in

The World Cup final is supposed to be the pinnacle of international football, the biggest game of your career. Perhaps it was the pressure to succeed that led to 14 yellow cards being issued during last year's match, including two for John Heitinga. 

Dutch players protested after Iniesta's winning goal, and referee Howard Webb was criticised after the match by several Dutch players. Nigel De Jong kicked Xabi Alonso in the chest before halftime, but only received a yellow card, a decision many believe to be lenient.

The Dutch team did show some more sportsmanlike behaviour after the final whistle, forming a guard of honour for their opponents. 

Jose Mourinho's Conspiracy

Earlier this season, Jose Mourinho was caught ordering Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos to get sent off so that they would miss a meaningless game against Auxerre and enter the knockout rounds of the Champions League with an empty quota of bookings.

Casillas and Dudek were also involved in the scheme, helping to deliver the message.

Unsurprisingly, considering the quality of the acting, Mourinho got caught and was banned for two Champions League matches, receiving a fine of £33,500 as well.