Sports are surprisingly emotional. Athletes push themselves to the limit, fans stand by their teams through every high and low, and reporters and commentators create heroes and villains. But controversy always lurks. Sometimes, it’s a shady deal behind the scenes. Other times, it’s a moment of passion spilling out on the field. Below are 15 of the most talked-about controversies in sports history. Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” (1986) Soccer’s 1986 World Cup delivered one of its most memorable—and controversial—moments. Argentina faced England in a quarter-final match loaded with political undertones. Diego Maradona stepped up as Argentina’s star. Early in the second half, he leaped for a bouncing ball in the penalty area. Peter Shilton, England’s goalkeeper, came out to punch it. Maradona’s hand swiped at the ball. It ended up in the net. The referee allowed the goal, missing the handball. Maradona later claimed it was scored “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” That one moment lit up debates for decades. Some viewers called it flagrant cheating, while others praised Maradona’s cunning and insisted the referee should have caught it. Maradona scored again a few minutes later, weaving through half of England’s team in what many still call the “Goal of the Century.” That second strike mattered, but the “Hand of God” overshadowed everything. Arguments about video technology and fair play began right after. The controversy eventually nudged international soccer toward better officiating systems, culminating in tools like VAR. The 1919 Black Sox Scandal Baseball has endured plenty of scandals, but the 1919 Black Sox Scandal still stands out. The Chicago White Sox were heavily favored to beat the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. Rumors flew that gamblers had made deals with certain White Sox players. The team’s performance in the Series looked suspiciously poor. A few players dropped balls or made unforced errors and whispers started about a fix. The official investigation named eight players, including legendary outfielder “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. He and the others were banned from pro baseball for life. The scandal shocked the nation, stained the sport, and led to the appointment of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis who had absolute authority to clean up the game. Malice at the Palace (2004) The NBA has seen its share of ejections and fines, but few fights escalated like the infamous “Malice at the Palace.” The Detroit Pistons hosted the Indiana Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Tensions were high on the court. A scuffle broke out near the end of the game. Then a spectator threw a drink at Ron Artest (later Metta World Peace). Enraged, Artest stormed into the stands. Other Pacers followed. Pistons fans rushed into the fray, and chaos swept the arena. Television viewers couldn’t believe it. Many had never seen pro athletes brawl with spectators. The NBA handed down severe suspensions and Artest missed the remainder of that season. Teammates Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal also faced bans and the league tightened security guidelines and restricted alcohol sales. Lance Armstrong’s Doping Confession Cycling fans once worshipped Lance Armstrong. After surviving testicular cancer, he dominated the Tour de France. He won it seven times in a row, from 1999 to 2005. His nonprofit foundation, Livestrong, raised millions for cancer research. For years, doping accusations trailed him. He swore he was clean. He sued people who questioned him. Yet rumors never went away. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency eventually published evidence of a huge doping scheme. Armstrong’s former teammates testified. He finally confessed in 2013 during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. The fallout was massive. He lost his seven Tour de France titles and received a lifetime ban from cycling. Sponsors like Nike ran for the exit, and fans felt betrayed. Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan (1994) Figure skating is known for elegance, but the Harding-Kerrigan saga was anything but. In January 1994, Nancy Kerrigan got clubbed on her knee after a practice session. The attack forced her out of the national championships. Investigators traced the assault back to Jeff Gillooly—Tonya Harding’s ex-husband—and two accomplices. Their plan aimed to give Harding a better shot at winning. The story shocked the public. Media outlets camped outside Harding’s home. Kerrigan recovered to skate in the 1994 Winter Olympics and won silver. Harding also competed but stumbled under the weight of scrutiny. Legal battles followed, and Harding got a lifetime ban from U.S. figure skating. Gillooly served time. Kerrigan tried to move forward. Tabloids wouldn’t stop milking the drama. Even decades later, many remember that one strike to the knee. It exposed a dark side of figure skating—a sport that usually showcased glittery costumes and polite smiles. Mike Tyson Bites Evander Holyfield’s Ear (1997) Mike Tyson’s power in the ring was legendary. He’d become the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history. However, his rematch with Evander Holyfield in 1997 became infamous for different reasons. Tyson had lost to Holyfield once. In the second fight, he grew frustrated by what he claimed were headbutts. Then, in the third round, Tyson stunned everyone by biting Holyfield’s ear—not once, but twice. The second chomp took a piece off. Officials stopped the fight. Tyson was disqualified. Fans were horrified. Some demanded a lifetime ban, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission handed him a lengthy suspension and a $3 million fine. Holyfield needed medical attention for his ear. The 2002 Winter Olympics Figure Skating Judging Scandal Figure skating found itself under a harsh spotlight at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The pairs competition featured two standout performances: the Russian duo Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze and the Canadian team Jamie Salé and David Pelletier. Many felt the Canadians had delivered a cleaner routine, yet the Russians ended up with gold medals. The crowd booed, and speculation about bias ran rampant. Officials probed the results, which led to a French judge admitting she’d been pressured to favor the Russians. The organizers corrected the situation and in an unprecedented move, awarded a second set of gold medals to the Canadians. Zinedine Zidane’s Headbutt (2006) The 2006 World Cup Final between France and Italy had everything. A global viewership, legendary players, high stakes, and Zinedine Zidane led France. He was a national hero. Then, late in the match, he shocked everyone by headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the chest. TV cameras captured everything. The referee showed Zidane a red card. With their best player gone, France lost on penalties. Later reports suggested Materazzi had insulted Zidane’s mother or sister. The specifics never got entirely clear. Some fans blamed the Italian defender for provoking him. Others felt Zidane’s reaction was way out of line. Deflategate (2014–15) Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have owned a big chunk of the NFL’s modern era. They won multiple Super Bowls with precision offense and a tight defense. In the 2014 AFC Championship Game, they faced the Indianapolis Colts. After the Patriots’ victory, there were accusationsthat the team used under-inflated footballs, giving Brady an edge in gripping and throwing. The NFL launched an investigation. The “Wells Report” found evidence suggesting Patriots staff tampered with the footballs. Brady received a four-game suspension and T Patriots got fined $1 million and lost draft picks. Opinions were split. Some fans and analysts argued this was a huge violation of fair play. Others said it was blown out of proportion. Legal battles and appeals followed. Brady eventually served the suspension. and his team went on to more championships. The 2007 Spygate Scandal Deflategate wasn’t the first time the New England Patriots faced scrutiny. In 2007, they got caught filming the New York Jets’ defensive signals. NFL rules say teams can’t record other teams’ sidelines to gain an unfair advantage. The Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 and the larger organization was hit with a $250,000 fine. They also lost a first-round draft pick. Fans of rival teams held this up as proof the Patriots bent or broke rules. Belichick insisted he misread the regulations. The league dismissed that defense and took action. Yet the team continued on a successful run. Many still call them one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. Others see them as the biggest rule-breakers. Spygate fueled ongoing debates about gamesmanship versus outright cheating and reminded fans that winning can come at a reputational cost. The 1972 Munich Olympics Men’s Basketball Final International tensions often creep into sports. The 1972 Summer Olympics men’s basketball final between the USA and the Soviet Union turned into a political and sporting controversy. Team USA had never lost a game in Olympic basketball prior to that night. At the end of the match, the Americans led 50–49. Time expired. Many believed they’d sealed another gold. Then officials ordered the clock reset. That happened multiple times. The Soviets finally scored a winning basket with one second left and confusion reigned. The U.S. team protested, citing mismanagement of the clock. The protest failed. The Soviet Union kept the gold medals. Team USA refused to accept the silver. Those medals remain unclaimed in a vault somewhere. Some insist the officiating was just incompetent, while others suspect something fishy. That final remains a bitter memory for American basketball fans and stands as one of the most disputed finishes in Olympic history. Bountygate in the NFL Player safety has become a hot topic in pro football. Bountygate, uncovered in 2012, fueled that conversation. The New Orleans Saints got exposed for running a bounty system. Defensive players received cash bonuses for big hits that caused opposing players to leave games injured. The NFL launched an investigation and found enough evidence to impose harsh punishments and Saints head coach Sean Payton got suspended for the entire 2012 season. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams received an indefinite suspension (later reinstated). Other team executives faced discipline. Fans and analysts debated whether the practice was common around the league. Some argued the Saints were just unlucky enough to get caught. Others said it was an evil practice that needed to be stamped out. The scandal arrived at a time when retired players were suing the NFL over concussion-related injuries. Public opinion demanded the league take a strong stand. Bountygate ended with a clear message: paying players to injure opponents crossed a big line. The O.J. Simpson Trial (1994–95) O.J. Simpson was more than an athlete. He was a star running back in the NFL, an actor, a broadcaster, and a household name. In 1994, police charged him with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The resulting trial gripped the entire country. Live broadcasts showed the infamous white Bronco chase, the courtroom drama, and eventually the “not guilty” verdict. That verdict divided America. Race, celebrity, and media coverage all played massive roles. The case overshadowed Simpson’s athletic accomplishments. He became better known for the trial than for his Heisman Trophy or his rushing records. Though he walked free in the criminal trial, a civil court later found him liable for wrongful death. Fans who once cheered him saw a different side. Though not a “sports scandal” in the usual sense, it remains one of the biggest controversies involving a former athlete. Ben Johnson’s Doping at the 1988 Seoul Olympics Track and field can be breathtaking. Sprint races showcase the purest form of speed. In 1988, Canada’s Ben Johnson broke the 100-meter world record with a time of 9.79 seconds. He crossed the line ahead of American rival Carl Lewis at the Seoul Olympics. Two days later, Johnson tested positive for the steroid stanozolol and Olympics officials stripped him of his gold. Johnson tried to return but tested positive again in 1993, leading to a lifetime ban. Russia’s State-Sponsored Doping Program Russia’s doping scandals have shaken international sports after investigators discovered a system where Russian officials, coaches, and labs covered up positive drug tests. The scheme played out around major events, including the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Whistleblowers described hidden holes in walls for sample-swapping and government agents who smuggled in clean samples. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) released reports detailing the extent of cheating. International bodies handed down suspensions. Russian athletes faced bans from several competitions. Some got to compete under a neutral flag, provided they passed rigorous testing.The post 15 of the most controversial moments in sports history first appeared on History Defined.