Roll of shame: 10 miscreants who have tainted sport
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea's Claude Makelele (below, on ground) contrived to get Monaco's Andreas Zikos (third from left) sent off on Tuesday when he collapsed, as if felled by cannon fire, after being lightly pushed by Zikos.
Chelsea's Claude Makelele (below, on ground) contrived to get Monaco's Andreas Zikos (third from left) sent off on Tuesday when he collapsed, as if felled by cannon fire, after being lightly pushed by Zikos.
The Greek midfielder had reacted to the Frenchman after Makelele had felled Zikos in a challenge and then brushed his face with his hand as the pair disentangled. Makelele was shown a yellow card and Zikos dismissed.
Shameless and embarrassing cheating such as Makelele's has long played a part in sport, as the following brazen - but mostly more imaginative - examples opposite show.
The Mysterious Mr Martin (gambler)
In July 1898, a man calling himself Mr Martin asked The Sportsman newspaper to print the race card from the upcoming Bank Holiday fixture at Trodmore in Cornwall, saying he would also be happy to telegraph the results. The card (and then results) were printed, Martin's acquaintances gambled - and won. And the meeting turned out to be fictitious.
Fred Lorz (Marathon runner)
Crossed the line first in the 1904 Olympic marathon in St Louis and had the winner's laurel placed on his head by Alice Roosevelt, daughter of the US President. Then confessed he had suffered cramp at the nine-mile mark and had travelled 11 miles of the race by car.
Boris Onischenko (Modern Pentathlete)
At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, the Ukrainian wired his fencing sword so he could trigger a "hit" on the electronic scoring system with his hand instead of actually having to land a touch on an opponent. The British team sussed his scam and "DisOnischenko" was sent home in disgrace.
Michel Pollentier (Cyclist)
The Belgian was asked to supply a urine sample in the 1978 Tour de France after winning the mountain climb to Alpe d'Huez. After deploying an unconventional elbow movement in the process, he was asked to raised his shirt, revealing a bag of uncontaminated urine and piping. He served a two-month ban.
Diego Maradona (Footballer)
Six minutes into the second half of England's World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium in 1986, Peter Shilton and Diego Maradona converged on Steve Hodge's sliced clearance. Maradona reached it ahead of Shilton, albeit with his left hand, aka the Hand of God. The rest is hysteria.
Ben Johnson (Sprinter)
The Canadian smashed the world record in 9.79sec to win the 100m gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Then his post-race urine sample tested positive for the anabolic steroid, Stanozol. He was stripped of his medal and banned for two years.
Roberto Rojas (Goalkeeper)
In a deciding World Cup qualifier in September 1989, Chile were 1-0 down to Argentina when their goalkeeper Rojas was carried off, covered in blood, apparently injured by a firecracker. Chile refused to play on, hoping to win by default. It transpired Rojas had deliberately cut himself. He was given a life ban, rescinded in 2001.
Tonya Harding (Ice skater)
Harding won the 1994 US championships but only after her rival, Nancy Kerrigan, had been attacked and forced to withdraw with knee damage. Harding was then implicated in planning the assault and was banned. She overturned the ban and both skaters competed at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Harding flunked, Kerrigan won silver.
Slaven Bilic (Footballer)
The Croatian defender shamelessly and theatrically crumpled to the floor after Laurent Blanc had raised a harmless arm in his direction during the France-Croatia World Cup semi-final of 1998. Blanc was dismissed, meaning he missed out on being a World Cup winner in Les Bleus' historic 3-0 final victory over Brazil.
Spain's Paralympic team (Basketball)
Spain beat Russia 87-63 in the final of intellectual disability basketball event at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics to win gold, but their joy turned to shame. They were ordered to return their medals after an in inquiry found that 10 of the squad had no disability.
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