Top Cheating Football Players at the World Cup (Part 1)

The world cup over the years has had plenty of moments of controversy with cheating players looking to trick the referee into awarding penalties and red cards for fouls that either didn't exist or were at worst a yellow card. The other side of cheating can occur with violent players trying to purposely injure opponents. With new VAR technology cheating could be a thing of the past, in which case we should remember with perhaps fond or tragic thoughts some of the biggest cheats of previous world cups...

Diego Simeone's Dive - Argentina vs. England, Round 16, World Cup 1998

In a case where the referee got the cards completely the wrong way around, David Beckham was given a straight red card for a flick on the leg of Diego Simone when England played Argentina in round 16 of the 1998 World Cup. England surprisingly took Argentina to penalties having survived a whole second half with 10 men but subsequently lost on penalties. But what made this decision particularly bad was the fact that Simone had fouled Beckham with what arguably looked like the far more aggressive challenge and ended up with just a yellow card to Beckham's red. Simone didn't help the matter for Beckham as he dived onto the floor holding his face in agony for just getting tapped on the back of his leg by Beckham's foot - what you would deem a manipulative dive employed for just one reason...get him off!

Michael Owen's Penalty Dive - Argentina vs. England, Round 16, World Cup 1998

Remarkably earlier on in the same game as the above Michael Owen dived even worse than Diego Simeone. Atleast with Simeone there was some actual contact with Beckham before he put on his theatrical display. Through the replay video you can see here there is clearly no contact between Michael Owen and Mauricio Pochettino as he goes down in the penalty area. Michael Owen somewhat to his credit atleast admitted later on that he had dived in that game. Perhaps the Beckham Red card was karma for Owen's own cheating?

Nigel De Jong's Kung Fu Kick On Xabi Alonso - Netherlands v Spain, Final, World Cup 2010

Netherland's Nigel De Jong came up with a ferocious kung fu kick on Spain's Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup Final. The most surprising part about this is the referee gave De Jong a mere yellow card. Think back to number 10 where Beckham is sent off for a flick on Diego Simeone's leg!

Arjen Robben Dive - Netherlands vs. Mexico, Round 16, World Cup 2014

In round 16 of the 2014 World Cup, Mexico were robbed of their first quarter final in 28 years when Arjen Robben decided to dive in the penalty area. The replay of the so called challenge clearly shows no contact between Robben and the Mexican player Marquez. What it does show is that Robben was cheating with his initial reaction to the challenge looking completely disproportionate to the challenge.

Luis Suarez Bite on Giorgio Chiellini - Uruguay vs Italy, Round 16, World Cup 2014

In a moment more comical than violent Luis Suarez's bite in the 2014 World Cup on Giorgio Chiellini is more haphazard than effective as he ends up stumbling all over Giorgio Chiellini like a salivating lap dog. He also attempts to cover up his clear signs of biting afterwards by yanking the Italian's shirt back up over his shoulder before he can show the referee. What sums Luis Suarez up in this video clip is after he has finished his incessant biting frenzy on the Italian's shoulder he then rolls around on the floor holding his face in a desperate attempt to avoid a red card - fail!