Twelve cases of spectacular misbehavior on the pitch
Frankfurt's David Abraham has lost his appeal against a seven-week ban for knocking Freiburg coach Christian Streich to the ground. Here is a selection of some of the more spectacular cases of misbehavior on the pitch.
November 2019: Abraham takes out Streich
A body check, two red cards: The Bundesliga match between Freiburg and Frankfurt on Matchday 11 ends in chaos after Eintracht's David Abraham (right) runs full steam at SportClub coach Christian Streich, knocking him to the ground. It's no surprise that he gets the red card, as does Vincenzo Grifo for giving Abraham a face wash every bit as worthy of an ice hockey match as the body check was.
July 2014: Zuniga ends Neymar's World Cup
Late in the 2014 World Cup quarterfinal between Brazil and Colombia, Colombia's Juan Camilo Zuniga (right) jumps knee-first into the back of Brazilian superstar Neymar with full force. Neymar is forced to leave the match as a result and his World Cup is over. The diagnosis: a lumbar vertebra fracture. A big shock for the Brazilian team and the fans. Zuniga gets off scot-free.
June 2014: 'Vampire' Suarez
In a group-stage match Uruguay's Luis Suarez (right) loses it during a battle for the ball and bites Italy's Giorgio Chiellini (left) in the shoulder. The Italians protest vehemently and Chiellini shows the referee the tooth marks - all to no avail as the ref didn't see the attack. Suarez, who looks like he has bitten off more than he can chew, gets off without as much as a warning.
June 2012: 'Knuckles' Kobiaschwili
In the tunnel following a relegation playoff match against Fortuna Düsseldorf, Hertha Berlin's Lewan Kobiaschwili punches referee Wolfgang Stark in the back of the head. The ref only just maintains his balance and is later diagnosed with a hematoma in the neck area. Kobiaschwili is suspended for seven and a half months and assessed a fine of €60,000 ($66,400).
March 2012: Leading with the studs
One of the clearest red cards we'd seen in a while at the time: Hamburg's Paolo Guerrero charges Stuttgart goalkeeper Sven Ulreich full throttle from behind - and with his studs showing. The Peruvian receives an eight-match suspension.
July 2010: Karate kick
The 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg was a rather ill-tempered affair. The Netherlands' Nigel de Jong (left) lands a karate-style kick on Spain's Xabi Alonso and gets off with a yellow card for his effort. Fortunately, Alonso isn't seriously injured and can able to play on. His revenge: Hoisting the World Cup into the air along with his Spanish teammates.
February 2008: Hard to watch
In this 2008 match in Birmingham, defender Martin Taylor (left) lunges studs showing into the ankle of Arsenal's Brazil-born Croatia international Eduardo da Silva, breaking the striker's left leg in three places. The foul was particularly horrifying to watch. It took da Silva almost an entire year to return to the pitch, but he was able to continue his career.
July 2006: The last act of a great career
The 2006 World Cup final in Berlin is the final game of Zinedine Zidane's storied career, but he doesn't bow out the way he would have wanted. With France and Italy tied 1-1 in extra time, Zidane stops abruptly, turns around and head-butts Italy's Marco Materazzi in the chest. As it turned out, Materazzi had insulted the Frenchman's sister. Zidane is sent off; Italy go on to win on penalties.
December 2005: Oscar-worthy performance?
In this 2005 match, Duisburg coach Norbert Meier (left) gets into a verbal with Albert Streit of Cologne. As their disagreement escalates, the two line up forehead-forehead. Meier then loses it, head-butts Streit, before briefly looking into the camera and falling theatrically. The TV footage is clear for all to see. Meier receives a suspension and is subsequently sacked as Duisburg coach.
June 1990: 'Lama' Rijkaard
Matches between Germany and the Netherlands can get heated, as was the case when they met in the 1990 World Cup. Frank Rijkaard (right) gets the yellow card for a brutal foul on Rudi Völler (left). Rijkaard spits into Völler's hair and pulls at his ear, while the German is still on the ground Völler protests vehemently; both wind up being sent off. Here Rijkaard spits at Völler for a second time.
July 1982: Schumacher levels Battiston
During their 1982 World Cup semifinal in Sevilla France's Patrick Battiston races in towards the West German goal. Goalkeeper Toni Schumacher darts off his line and jumps into Battiston as he gets off a shot. Schumacher turns and his right hip collides with the Frenchman's head. Battiston is knocked out, suffers a concussion, damaged vertebrae and loses two teeth. No foul was called.
August 1981: Open wound
Ewald Lienen of Armnia Bielefeld lies on the pitch, his thigh having been torn open by the studs of Werder Bremen's Norbert Siegmann. Despite his wound, Lienen pops up and runs to Werder coach Otto Rehhagel, accusing him of having encouraged Siegmann to play in such an uncontrolled and dangerous manner. The wound requires more than 23 stitches to be closed.