The beautiful game makes us forget about our problems to enjoy our favourite teams battle it out. But its dark side can also rear its ugly head from time to time. From corrupt financials, officials being bribed or straight up cheating some revelations have shocked the football world to its core.
Some of the biggest controversies in sport have taken place on a football pitch or behind-closed-doors at a club's stadium. The latest is Manchester City's war with the Premier League after being found guilty of breaching financial regulations.
Where does City's ongoing case rank among the biggest scandals in football history? Prepare for chaos as we determine the worst incidents that have tarnished the most popular sport in the world.
10. The Escándalo de Maracanã (1989)
This first entry is an act of cheating done by one player rather than an institution. During a crucial 1990 World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Chile at the Maracanã, a flare was thrown onto the pitch near Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas. Rojas collapsed, seemingly hit by something, his face covered in blood.
The match was abandoned, but photographic evidence later revealed the flare never hit him. Rojas had actually cut himself with a razor blade hidden in his glove in a desperate bid to get Brazil disqualified. He received a lifetime ban.
9. The Totonero Scandal (1980)
The original Italian match fixing scandal, in 1980, Italian authorities uncovered a massive illegal betting ring orchestrated by players and officials to manipulate Serie A and Serie B results.
The fallout led to AC Milan and Lazio relegated to Serie B, and several high-profile players received massive suspensions. Among them was Paolo Rossi, who was banned for two years but returned just in time to heroically lead Italy to the 1982 World Cup.
8. The 2002 World Cup Refereeing Controversies
Although not confirmed some of the decisions made by officials at the 2002 World Cup look suspicious in hindsight. . Co-hosts South Korea eliminated both Italy and Spain in the knockout rounds following a string of dodgy decisions which made no sense. Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno (who later served prison time for heroin smuggling) controversially sent off Francesco Totti and disallowed a perfectly legal golden goal, leading to widespread accusations of systemic tournament fixing.
7. The Juventus Prisma Investigation (2022–2026)
Juventus found themselves back in the courtroom after an investigation into artificial capital gains and hiding information about transfers and hidden wage payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fallout saw the entire board of directors, including Andrea Agnelli, resign in late 2022.
The club suffered a points deduction, missed out on Champions League revenue, and in late 2026, the financial damage ultimately forced the club to launch a massive €250 million share capital increase to stabilize their decimated balance sheet.
6. The Negreira Case (2023–Present)
A scandal that has cast a massive shadow over Barcelona's modern golden era. In 2023, it was revealed that the Catalan club paid around €8.4 million to companies associated with José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of Spain's refereeing committee, between 2001 and 2018.
While Barca insists the payments were strictly for technical scouting reports on referees and deny buying match officials, it could turn out all their silverware can be taken away.
5. Diego Maradona’s 1994 World Cup Exit
Throughout his career, Diego Maradona struggled with drug addiction and on the world's biggest stage he showed his ugly habit. The Argentine legend miraculously got himself into shape for the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
After scoring a brilliant goal against Greece and screaming with red eyes at the camera, he was randomly selected for a drug test. He tested positive for ephedrine (a banned stimulant) and was immediately sent home from the tournament in a walk of shame.
4. The Marseille Match-Fixing Scandal (1993)
Under the ownership of Bernard Tapie, Olympique de Marseille became the first French club to win the Champions League in 1993.
However, just days before the European final, Tapie and the club's hierarchy bribed Valenciennes players to throw a Ligue 1 match so Marseille could secure the domestic title early and avoid injuries.
When the corruption was exposed, Marseille were stripped of their Ligue 1 title, relegated to the second division, and Tapie was sent to prison.
3. Calciopoli (2006)
Christened football gate, Italian football hasn't done itself much justice with all the scandals their clubs have got up to. This time it was Juventus accused of match fixing after police intercepted phone calls revealing a network of club managers and referee organisations conspiring to select favourable match officials for specific games in 2006.
Juventus general managers Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo were at the center of the web. The consequences were huge with Juventus stripped of two Serie A titles and relegated to Serie B for the first time in their history, while AC Milan, Fiorentina, and Lazio suffered heavy points deductions.
2. FIFAgate: The 2015 FIFA Corruption Scandal
When the people who run the football world are found out doing dirty dealings it makes you second guess how the game is run. In 2015, the FBI and Swiss authorities raided a luxury hotel in Zurich, arresting high-ranking FIFA executives.
The investigation uncovered decades of deep corruption, bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering surrounding the awarding of broadcasting rights and World Cup host nations. The scandal ultimately forced the resignations of long-time FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini.
1. Manchester City’s 114 Charges (2023–2026)
The scandal which is on everyone's lips but hasn't even finished yet has to be top of this list. After a multi-year investigation, the Premier League initially charged Manchester City with 115 breaches of financial rules.
In a bombshell 40-page verdict delivered in late September 2026, an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 of those 115 charges. The ruling detailed that City had arranged "sham contracts" to inflate revenues and disguise funding between 2009 and 2018.
Roberto Mancini had been revealed to be paid off the books in leaks while he was managing at the club. Now we await how they're going to deal with the biggest scandal in British football history and will the be playing in the Championship or even League 2 next season.
