Top Ten: Euro controversies

Last updated: 6th June 2008

Paul Gascoigne Dentists chair Euro 1996 v Scotland

Gascoigne's 'Dentist's chair'

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As well as great goals and superb football the European Championships have also seen some less savoury incidents. Skysports.com look at 10 controversies of the Championships.

1. Portugal go potty

There were just four minutes of extra-time remaining and France and Portugal were level at 1-1 in their Euro 2000 semi-final when Sylvain Wiltord's shot was handled in the box by Abel Xavier.

The referee rightly pointed to the spot and Zinedine Zidane converted the golden goal penalty but before and after the kick Portugal - and Nuno Gomes in particular - protested long and loud.

Xavier, Nuno Gomes and Paulo Bento were banned for a combined total of two years by Uefa.

2. Some teams have all the luck...

Italy hosted the 1968 European Championships from the semi-finals onwards and they led a charmed life indeed.

Their semi-final clash with the Soviet Union ended goalless and so was settled by the toss of a coin, but even with that piece of pure luck Italy were on the verge of a 1-0 final defeat to Yugoslavia with 10 minutes to go.

However, as the Yugoslavian wall was still being pulled into position, Angelo Domenghini scored with a quickly-taken free-kick.

The match ended level but this time there was no coin toss - instead Italy won the replay against the tired and dejected Yugoslavs 2-0.

3. Ref justice for Spain

England were riding high at Euro 96 after thrashing Holland 4-1 in their final group game but Spain refused to topple as easily as the Dutch.

Indeed, they had two goals disallowed - the first, by Julio Salinas in the first half - was clearly onside.

The second by Kiko was more borderline, and ultimately England prevailed 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out. "We not only played against 11 players and 70,000 fans but also against three officials. It was impossible to win," Salinas later claimed.

4. Basile the rat

Basile Boli was public enemy number one for a few days in the English press in the summer of 1992.

He decided to show who was the biggest 'Psycho' by splitting open Stuart Pearce's cheek with a blatant headbutt when England met France at Euro 92 in Sweden - and got away scot-free.

Within days the tabloids had a new villain - England manager Graham 'Turnip' Taylor - as a 2-1 defeat by the hosts eliminated Pearce and co.

5. Bulgaria and Spain see red

Twelve years had passed without a red card at a European Championships finals match until Italian referee Pietro Ceccarini adopted a zero tolerance policy in this Euro 96 first-round group match.

Petar Houbtchev and Juan Antonio Pizzi were both dismissed and seven other players were booked, leaving both sides walking a disciplinary tightrope for the remainder of the competition.

Both teams had their grievances with Ceccarini at the end - Bulgaria for disallowing a Hristo Stoichkov volley and Spain for awarding a penalty which the eastern Europeans scored.

6. Romania are barred

Bulgaria had better luck in their next match when Romania midfielder Dorinel Munteanu's 30-yard thunderbolt hit the underside of the crossbar, bounced down over the goalline but spun back out.

Replays clearly showed the ball had crossed the line but Romania lost the match 1-0 and ultimately finished bottom of their group with three defeats.

The Romanian federation were so incensed that they appealed to Uefa and released the following statement: "Following our game with Bulgaria we would like to convey to you (UEFA) our deep disappointment and indignation in which our national team was deprived, totally unjustly and totally unfairly, of the chance of competing in a fair and unhindered tournament."

7. Greece call the whole thing off

There are bad draws and there are bad draws. Greece were so unhappy that they had been paired against Albania in the two-legged first round section of the 1964 European Championships that they withdrew, handing the Albanians victory on a walkover.

The reason for the uproar? The two countries had been at war since 1912.

8. The dentist's chair

England were aiming to end 30 years of hurt at Euro 96 but it seemed their best and brightest were intent on some serious debauchery before the tournament started.

Tabloid newspapers carried photographs from a tour of Hong Kong of players reclining in a 'dentist's chair' and having various alcoholic beverages poured down their throats.

The players were pilloried - Paul Gascoigne in particular - but all was forgotten as the team briefly lifted the nation by reaching the semi-finals.

Gazza, ever the joker, even re-enacted that infamous night after scoring his wonder-goal against Scotland.

9. Dutch racial split

Holland have often been plagued by internal disputes at major tournaments but there seemed something more sinister at Euro 96, where an out-of-sorts team managed by Guus Hiddink were a major disappointment.

Photographs of the team's dining arrangements suggested separate cliques had developed between the black and white players in the team.

10. Crowd disturbance forces players off

England's following had earned itself an unwanted reputation for thuggery throughout the 1970s and at the 1980 European Championships the Italian riot police were determined to be ready. Clashes between fans and the authorities forced the teams off in England's opening match with Belgium in Turin, with goalkeeper Ray Clemence leaving the field in tears after the police used CS gas on the crowd.

Comments

Josh Janvier (Liverpool fan) says...

Has anyone else noticed it says England WON a penalty shoot out. Surely thats a misprint!

Posted 20:20 7th June 2008

Ruman Sahota (Arsenal fan) says...

Yes, at that thunderbolt, wow what an amazing strike, yet it was disallowed. Who on earth was the linesman, and where was he?

Posted 16:57 6th June 2008

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