The 50 Most Dysfunctional Clubs in World Football

When we watch TV, we laugh at the dysfunction of families like the Simpsons.

But what do we do with dysfunctional football clubs?

That's a tough one.

There are many reasons a club can be dysfunctional. Lots of clubs get themselves into financial trouble. Some have problems much deeper than that.

Some find themselves wrapped up in scandals much bigger than themselves.

We've got all of that here.

Read on for more.

1. Portsmouth

We'll start with Portsmouth, which won the 2008 FA Cup and competed in the Premier League until 2010.

By that time, though, problems had been brewing for years. During the 2009-10 season, the club's new owner, Balram Chainrai, discovered the club's debt stood at £135 million.

Chainrai placed the club in administration, incurring a nine-point penalty from the Premier League. The team sold off some players and had trouble paying others.

Not surprisingly, the team was relegated at the end of the season.

2. CSKA Sofia

You might think otherwise as you continue through this slideshow, but club dysfunction is not unique to Britain.

Take the case of CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria.

The Spoiler published this piece about CSKA in the spring of 2010, which was a terrible time to be associated with the club.

Here are some highlights.

First, the local paper published a report documenting how unsafe CSKA's home stadium was.

Then, the club fired goalkeeper Daniel Bekono for unspecified "disciplinary offenses."

Soon after that, CSKA's match against Lokomotiv Mezdra was abandoned after about 100 CSKA fans rushed the pitch. CSKA got a three-match stadium ban, while Mezdra, which hadn't hired police to monitor the match, earned only a one-match ban.

Just one day later, CSKA forward Orlin Orlinov was arrested for the kidnapping and assault of a reality TV star.

3. Luton Town

It's hard to imagine now, but Luton Town were a top-tier club until being relegated from the old First Division after the 1991-92 season.

Now the (Mad) Hatters play in the Conference.

After relegation in 1992—which ended Luton's 89-year run in the top flight—the club sank all the way to the fourth tier of English football.

In 2003, new owner John Gurney arrived and shook things up. Luton earned a few promotions but were then relegated twice in a row.

The club's finances suffered. The Hatters spent the latter half of the 2006-07 season in administration and earned a 10-point deduction from the FA.

The hammer blow came at the beginning of the 2008-09 season, when Luton were docked 30 points before the first match for continued financial irregularities.

Sounds fun.

4. Bournemouth

Bournemouth were forced into administration in February 2008 and earned a 10-point deduction for club debts of around £4 million.

Before the 2008-09 season, the FA threatened to not let Bournemouth play in League Two but eventually relented—which meant a 17-point penalty to start the season.

5. Rotherham United

In 2006, Rotherham United's future was in doubt after it was revealed that the club could not continue if it didn't bridge a monthly shortfall of £140,000.

A local businessman stepped forward and saved the club.

That little bit of drama earned Rotherham a 10-point deduction at the start of the 2006-07 season. The Millers were, of course, relegated from League One the following spring.

Rotherham entered administration again in March 2008 and earned another 10-point deduction. Local businessman Tony Stewart took over the club and accepted a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), which saved the club but incurred another 17-point deduction to start the 2008-09 season.

The club got out of administration, but it had to leave Milmoor, its home of more than 100 years, due to disputes with landlords.

6-8: The Conference Three

At the end of the 2005-06 season, three teams were seemingly competing for relegation from the Conference.

Not really, but here's what happened.

Altrincham finished outside the relegation zone but were docked 18 points for fielding an ineligible player for 15 matches. (What is this, college football?)

That deduction meant Altrincham finished bottom of the table. But Canvey Island resigned from the league at the end of the season after owner-manager Jeff King decided he didn't want to fund the team anymore. So that took care of one relegation spot.

The other went to Scarborough, which lost every single point it earned that season for violating the league's rules on club ownership.

Yikes.

Scarborough went out of business a few seasons later, ending the club's 128-year history.

That picture to the left is the old main stand of Scarborough's McCain Stadium.

9. Northwich Victoria

Northwich Victoria has a long history of dysfunction.

In 2004, the club went into administration and earned a 10-point deduction. They avoided relegation that season but went down anyway, voluntarily, due to legal problems.

10. Leeds United

Leeds United are one of England's most historically successful clubs.

The Whites dominated the old First Division in the 1960s and '70s and had a renaissance in the late '90s and early 2000s.

In the early years of that decade, Leeds were challenging for the league title and competing in Europe. A few years later, they were in the depths of the English league system and suffering from deep financial woes.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale took out large loans based on the prospect of TV money from qualification for the UEFA Champions League. Leeds made it all the way to the semifinals of the competition in 2001—living the dream as they called it—but failed to qualify the following season.

Meanwhile, the club went on a buying spree, bringing in players like Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane and Robbie Fowler.

The dream quickly fell apart, though. Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in 2004. The squad was dismantled. The club searched for new investors and sold Elland Road.

Administration followed in 2007, along with a 10-point deduction. Leeds then fell to the third tier of English football for the first time in its storied history.

Years of turmoil followed. Leeds are now back in the Championship, one step from the Premier League.

11. Wrexham

Wrexham, a Welsh club, are yet another example of financial dysfunction.

The Red Dragons entered administration in December of 2004 with debts of more than £2 million. That figure included nearly £1 million in back taxes.

The club earned a 10-point deduction and were relegated at the end of the season.

12. Heart of Midlothian

It's not a good sign when your club owner shares a last name with a deposed Russian imperial family.

Heart of Midlothian owner Vladimir Romanov once declared a goal of winning the Champions League.

Here's a tip for Vlad: It might help to pay your players.

13-36: The Entire Indonesian League

Check out this interesting article from the Jakarta Globe.

The short version: There almost wasn't a season this year in Indonesia after a string of scandals and a crisis of leadership.

At one point 14 of the league's 24 teams threatened a boycott.

Whoo boy.

37-40: Italian Match-Fixing Scandal, Part I

You remember the match-fixing scandal that rocked Italy shortly before the national team won the 2006 World Cup, right?

Juventus got relegated—and docked 30 points for the following season.

Lazio and Fiorentina also went down to Serie B.

AC Milan stayed in Serie A but earned a 15-point deduction the following season.

41-50 (And Many More): Italian Match-Fixing Scandal, Part II

You'd think Italy would have learned its collective lesson after 2006.

Nope.

There's another scandal afoot, and it's even bigger this time.

Former Lazio captain Giuseppe Signori (pictured) is one of 16 people who have been arrested.

Here's a list of teams that have been punished for their role: Atalanta, Ascoli, Hellas Verona, Sassuolo, Alessandria, Benevento, Cremonese, Esperia Viareggio, Piacenza, Portogruaro Summaga, Ravenna, Reggiana, Spezia, Taranto and Virtus Entella.

Jeepers.