On the biggest stage possible, Zinedine Zidane blew a fuse. In the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, France's captain scored first before sending his team to the losing end in extra time. After his Italian counterpart Marco Materazzi verbally abused him on the pitch by hurling insults at Zidane's family members, Zidane rammed his head into his chest and knocked Materazzi down. Referee Horacio Marcelo Elizondo showed Zidane the red card. Italy prevailed in the penalty shootout. For Zidane, losing the final and being sent off was the inglorious but spectacular end to his national team career.
In the fight for Olympic bronze in Beijing 2008, Cuban Angel Matos robbed himself of all chances - and his own taekwondo career. Because Matos had overstayed a time-out, referee Chakir Chelbat disqualified him. Yet Matos was leading on points at the time. The 2000 Olympic champion then lost his nerve: he kicked the referee in the face. The consequence: a lifetime ban for Matos and his coach Leudis Gonzalez. Bronze went to the Kazakh Arman Chilmanov.
The boxing world feverishly awaited that June 28, 1997. The rematch between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield for the WBA heavyweight title was on the cards. And the fight became legendary - but for a curious reason: Because Holyfield upset Tyson with little headbutts and tactical shenanigans, Tyson resorted to unfair means twice. He held Holyfield's head and bit off a piece of his ear. After Tyson's second bite attempt, the judges decided before the start of the fourth round to disqualify him and declare Holyfield the winner. Tyson then attempted to charge at Holyfield and police officers. As he left the arena, angry fans pelted him with coins, lighters and beer.
US American John McEnroe was notorious for his outbursts on the tennis court. The most famous of these was his tantrum at Wimbledon in 1981, when, after the umpire had ruled a serve out of bounds, McEnroe went on a tirade saying "You cannot be serious!" at him before launching into a rant. Granted: McEnroe was probably right. The serve was an ace, according to TV pictures. But for McEnroe it was not a disaster: he won the tournament, won a total of seven Grand Slam titles and named his autobiography, which was published in 2002, after his famous saying, which is still a catchphrase in the tennis world today.
On January 25, 1995, it was just too much abuse for Eric Cantona. During a game against Crystal Palace, the French striker in the service of Manchester United jumped via kung fu kick into a spectator who had previously insulted and spat on him because of his origin and showed the Hitler salute. Cantona saw a red card for the action and was banned for eight months. In an interview years later, the former Manchester United crowd favourite said he regretted only one thing about the action: "I didn’t punch the Palace fan strong enough. I should have punched him harder."
Foot faults on serve are an absolute exception in professional tennis. Serena Williams reacted all the more indignantly at the 2009 US Open when an umpire challenged her for just such a mistake. "I'm going to shove this f*cking ball down your f*cking throat," the former world number one screamed at the umpire. The result: a $10,500 fine for Williams. Williams' performance in the 2018 US Open final was similarly explosive: After being warned by umpire Carlos Ramos for illegal coaching from the box, Williams began a private feud with Ramos. "I don't cheat to win. I'd rather lose," or "you'll never officiate another match of mine as long as you live," as well as slurs as "thief" and "liar" followed - as well as more warnings up to and including a game penalty for Williams. Her opponent and winner Naomi Osaka stood in tears in an Arthur Ashe Stadium filled with boos after the undignified spectacle at the victory ceremony for her first Grand Slam title.
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