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Moments of madness: Soccer stars behaving badly
Updated
10:34 AM EDT, Wed April 24, 2013
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Luis the loose cannon —
Liverpool's Luis Suarez has been banned for 10 games by the English Football Association for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during Sunday's match at Anfield. It was the latest example of a player displaying questionable behavior in front of a vast array of television cameras. As football coverage has grown over the last two decades, so has the scrutiny placed on the stars of the "beautiful game." In this gallery, CNN highlights times when players have seemingly forgotten the eyes of the world are watching...
ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images
Helping hand —
Suarez's reputation as a pantomime villain dates back to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The striker used his hand to block a goal-bound shot in the last minute of extra-time in a quarterfinal tie between Uruguay and Ghana. Suarez was given a red card and Ghana were awarded a penalty. But Asamoah Gyan missed the spot kick and Uruguay won the resulting penalty shootout to reach the semifinals, breaking African hearts in the process. Suarez also has previous when it comes to biting opponents, after he bit PSV's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in November 2010. He was given a seven-match ban.
Michael Steele/Getty Images/file
Cantona's karate kick —
Manchester United's Eric Cantona suffered a moment of madness during an EPL match at Crystal Palace in January 1995. Cantona had been given a red card for kicking an opponent and, while making his exit from the pitch, the Frenchman jumped over the advertising boards and aimed a scissor kick at a fan who he claimed was shouting insults at him. Cantona was banned for nine months and also served 120 hours community service.
Shaun Botterill/ALLSPORT/file
Paolo's push —
Paolo Di Canio has often courted controversy during his career. The Italian, who recently faced allegations of holding fascist views following his appointment as Sunderland manager, pushed referee Paul Alcock to the floor during a match against Arsenal in September 1998. Di Canio was given a red card and suspended for 11 games.
Mark Thompson /Allsport/file
It is not just acts of violence which can make players unpopular. Brazil's Rivaldo was criticized, and ridiculed, following a group stage match against Turkey at the 2002 World Cup. Rivaldo went to the floor claiming Hakan Unsal had kicked the ball into his face, despite replays showing it had clearly hit him in the leg. Unsal was given a second yellow card and sent off, while Brazil went on to win the match 2-1. FIFA retrospectively punished Rivaldo with a fine, but the playmaker had the last laugh as Brazil went on to lift football's biggest prize for a record fifth time.
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images/file
Pinto's punch —
Portugal's Joao Pinto drew criticism during the 2002 World Cup after punching a referee in the stomach. Pinto, who had been given a red card during the match against tournament co-hosts South Korea, was suspended for six months by football's global governing body FIFA.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/file
Zizou's outburst —
Zinedine Zidane. a world and European champion and a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, ended his career in infamy at the 2006 World Cup. With the scores level at 1-1 in the final between France and Italy, the playmaker headbutted Italy's Marco Materazzi and was given a straight red card. France went on to lose the match on penalties and Zidane never played again. Materazzi later admitted to provoking Zidane by making remarks about his mother and sister.
JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images/file
Pepe's punishment —
Real Madrid defender Pepe has a notoriously short fuse. The Portuguese star was handed a 10-match ban in April 2009 for violent conduct, after kicking Getafe's Javi Casquero in the back while he lay on the floor. Moments before, Pepe had brought down Casquero to concede a penalty.
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images/file
Axel's assault —
Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel was banned for eight matches after breaking Marcin Wasilewski's leg while played for Standard Liege against FC Brussels in 2009. Witsel has since joined Russia's Zenit St Petersburg.
VIRGINIE LEFOUR/AFP/Getty Images/file
Valentin's vile lunge —
Valentin Eysseric, who plays for French club Nice, was hit with an 11-match suspension following last month's match against Saint Etienne. The midfielder broke Jeremy Clement's leg and shattered several ankle ligaments following a shin-high tackle. Saint Etienne's fans have since displayed a banner saying "Support Clement" during their matches.