Sweden's goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren celebrates during their Euro U21 soccer championship. Photo / AP.
Sweden's goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren celebrates during their Euro U21 soccer championship. Photo / AP.
The Football Ferns exit from the Women's World Cup last week was surrounded by ugly gamesmanship as coach Tony Readings refused to shake the hand of China's head coach, Hao Wei.
Then yesterday, we saw gamesmanship raise its head again.
After Portugal and Sweden both scored in their final U21UEFA Championship group stage game, the last few minutes of the game consisted of simply kicking the ball around - resulting in a draw and blocking Italy from advancing.
Without doubt one of the most shameful moments in World Cup history. Dubbed "the disgrace of Gijon", West Germany and Austria met in their final group game of the 1982 World Cup knowing that a 1-0 victory for West Germany would send both teams through to the next round at the expense of Algeria - who'd played their final group game the day before.
Horst Hrubesch put the West Germans ahead after 10 minutes and as the game wore on, and the mutually suitable scoreline remained, both sides were content to play out for West Germany's 1-0 win.
Algerians called it a "fix" with some fans waving money and burning it. Austria's TV commentator told viewers to switch their televisions off, one German fan burned the country's flag and neutral Spanish fans voiced their disapproval from the stands in Gijon.
There was worldwide uproar and only one good result came from the controversy. Fifa now ensured the final group games in World Cups were played at the same time.
2. Trevor Chappell's underarm throw
New Zealand needed a six from the last ball to tie the ODI match with Australia at the MCG in 1981. Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his younger brother Trevor to bowl underarm to Brian McKechnie.
The delivery was technically legal within the rules of the game but it unfairly meant McKechnie had no chance of hitting the six New Zealand needed.
3. Glenn Stewart
The South Sydney forward confessed that he dived to win a penalty and deny North Queensland a try in their NRL meeting back in April.
Stewart fooled the referees into thinking he'd been obstructed in attempting to make a tackle but he really just fell flat on his backside.
4. Grant Elliot's run-out in New Zealand's tour of England in 2008
Elliot hit the deck while attempting a run following a collision with Ryan Sidebottom. Ian Bell calmly picked up the ball and threw to Kevin Pietersen who sheepishly ran out Elliot, who'd only just managed to pick himself up again.
England captain Paul Collingwood chose not to withdraw the appeal which outraged New Zealand but justice was done as the Black Caps sneaked a one wicket win with the final ball.
The apologies were made once the dust had settled and Collingwood was left with the embarrassment of committing an act of gamesmanship that hadn't ensured victory. He was soon banned for by the ICC for four matches for a completely separate offence - England's slow over rate in the game.
5. Bruce Grobbelaar's spaghetti legs - 1984 European Cup Final
A penalty shootout was needed to decide the final in Rome after Liverpool and AS Roma were level at 1-1 after extra time.
Liverpool's goalkeeper Grobbelaar moved about very strangely on his line to try and distract Roma's players.
It definitely worked as Liverpool won the shootout 4-2 to win their fourth European Cup and Grobbelaar earned the nickname "spaghetti legs" for his antics.
