1- Event:
Zinedine
Zidane being sent off twice in the Champions League in the Fall of 2000
Consequence:
Juventus’
Zinedine Zidane had led France to triumph in the UEFA European Championships in
the summer of 2000. Many predicted that he would be elected as France
Football’s Ballon d’Or at the end of the year.
However,
he was sent off twice within weeks in the Champions League in the new season
(On September 26, 2000 (Juventus 0-Deportivo La Coruna 0) and on October 24,
2000 (Juventus 1-SV Hamburg 3)).
In
the match vs. SV Hamburg, he was sent off for head butting Jochen Kientz.
When
the time for the balloting came, many of the Journalists admitted that they
gave him a lower placing precisely for the double sending offs.
As
a result Luis Figo was elected as the Ballon d’Or.
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 36 Suppplement, November-December 2000
(Zinedine
Zidane headbutting Jochen Kientz)
|
2- Event:
Ubaldo
Fillol refusing to wear Adidas kit in 1983
Consequence:
In
the summer of 1983, River Plate annulled goalkeeper Ubaldo Fillol’s contract
because he refused to wear Adidas equipment like the rest of the squad as club
contract had stipulated.
He
had to be transferred to Argentinos Juniors in order to avoid a players'
strike.
Shortly
afterwards, he signed for Brazil’s Flamengo. Argentina were playing Brazil in
Rio for the Copa America, he stayed behind and negotiated a transfer to
Flamengo.
 |
Photo
From: EL GRAFICO Nº 3356 (31-1-1984)
(Ubaldo
Fillol with Junior at Flamnego)
|
3- Event:
Jim Beglin’s injury after a tackle by Gary Stevens
Consequence:
Liverpool and Republic of Ireland International defender Jim
Beglin seemed headed for a long career for club and country.
On January 21, 1987, Everton defender Gary M. Stevens’ tackle injured
him severely during their League Cup encounter (Everton 0-Liverpool 1).
His Liverpool career was effectively over and joined Leeds United
in the Second Division in 1989. He made few appearances and was loaned twice.
By the summer of 1991, he was forced to retire at age 27 due to
the recurrence of his injury.
 |
Photo
From: Shoot, June 15, 1991
(Jim
Beglin at Liverpool)
|
4- Event:
A
linesman was hit by an orange thrown from the stands from Spanish fans at
Valencia in a UEFA European Championship Qualifier (October 10, 1979, EC
Qualifier, Spain 0-Yugoslavia 1).
Consequence:
Valencia’s
Estadio Luis Casanova was banned 22 months from hosting any International
Matches.
5- Event:
French
goalkeeper Lionel Letizi’s error in a Friendly.
Consequence:
French
and FC Metz goalkeeper Lionel Letizi had an outside chance to make it as
France’s number three goalkeeper for the 1998 World Cup behind Fabien Barthez
and Bernard Lama.
On
March 25, 1998, he was given a chance to start in a Friendly vs. Russia at
Moscow.
His
error led to Russia scoring their only goal. Many feel he was overlooked for
the number three position (Lionel Charbonnier was chosen instead) because of
his error.
After
transferring to Paris St. Germain in 2000, he earned two more caps, but his
career is always remembered mostly for this one error in an International.
 |
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Hors Serie 28, June 1998
(Lionel Letizi) |
