A controversial decision in football has left a goalkeeper banned for life after feigning injury in a crucial knockout match.
Many sports fans remember that World Cup in Italy in 1990for which many South American teams fought hard for their place in the most prestigious competition. While some people are champions of the phrase; “the end justifies the means”, some tactics can be a little off the mark.
In the midst of this fierce battle to be part of the South American teams that would reach the World Cup, an incredibly unusual and controversial event starring Roberto Rojasarcher of the Chilean national team, left an indelible mark on football history. What began as a desperate plan to secure qualification for the World Cup event ended in a lifetime ban for the “Condor” Rojas and one Historic sanction for Chile.
Roberto Rojas.jpg
What happened to Roberto Rojas, the Chilean goalkeeper who sparked FIFA’s fury?
Roberto Rojas, also known as the “Condor”, was the protagonist of one of the most controversial episodes in the history of Chilean and world football. During a crucial match of the Qualifiers at the legendary Maracanã stadium, The goalkeeper decided to take extreme measures to ensure a favorable result. In a moment of high tension, Rojas He pretended to have been injured by a flare launched from the stands, cutting his eyebrow with a scalpel he carried hidden in his glove.
The scene was dramatic to the point that the goalkeeper was taken off the field covered in blood, prompting his teammates to leave the party in protestHowever, the farce was quickly discovered thanks to television images and the FIFA investigationwhich determined that the Bengal never reached him. The intention of Rojas and the Chilean coaching staff to manipulate the result became an embarrassment and Chile was severely punished, being left out of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. For his part, Rojas received a lifetime banwhich was raised 12 years later, when it had already been withdrawn.
Although his punishment was lifted, his legacy in football was marked by this scandal, remembered as one of the most infamous acts in the history of World Cup qualifiers.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
