Battle of Santiago Chile vs. Italy, 1962 World Cup
Image. Battle of Santiago - Chile versus Italy in the 1962 World Cup. One of the matches showed the really the dark side of football.
Football isn’t just a game - it’s a universal language that unites people across cultures, borders, and backgrounds. From the World Cup to local street matches, it brings fans together in a way few things can.
Pele from Brazil, often referred to as the King of Football, is the only player in history to have won three FIFA World Cup titles, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and boasts a cabinet full of trophies, won for both club and country. He is one of the best footballer of all time and a great sportsman, famously described football as “o jogo bonito” - “the beautiful game” - and arguably no individual did more to make it so. But not everybody have contributed to make fotball beautiful.
The most brutal football matches in history
Here are some of the most infamous games where chaos took over:
- Battle of Santiago (Chile vs. Italy, 1962 World Cup)
The most violent World Cup match ever. This game was so brutal that the police had to intervene multiple times! Players threw punches, kicked opponents, and ignored all rules of sportsmanship. It was so bad that BBC commentator David Coleman called it “the most stupid, appalling, disgusting, and disgraceful exhibition of football.” This match ultimately inspired the introduction of red and yellow cards for referees. Watch some shocking glimpses from the match between Chile and Italy in the World Cup 1962 on YouTube. - Estudiantes vs. AC Milan (1969 Intercontinental Cup)
A match that felt more like a battlefield. The Argentine side Estudiantes went after Milan’s players with terrifying aggression. Milan’s goalkeeper Néstor Combin left with a broken nose and swollen eyes, and several Estudiantes players were later arrested for their actions. See glimpses from the match between Estudiantes and AC Milan in the 1969 Intercontinental Cup on YouTube. - Battle of Nuremberg (Portugal vs. Netherlands, 2006 World Cup)
A record-breaking foul-fest. With 16 yellow cards and 4 red cards, this match was an all-out brawl. Players were more focused on getting revenge than actually playing football, turning the game into a nonstop series of dirty tackles. - Manchester United vs. Arsenal (1990 "Battle of Old Trafford")
A match that fuelled a fierce rivalry. What started as a rough tackle exploded into a full-on brawl involving nearly every player on the pitch. Arsenal won 1-0, but both teams were punished heavily, adding more fire to one of football’s biggest rivalries. - Battle of Highbury (England vs. Italy, 1934)
More street fight than football match. Italy, fresh from winning the 1934 World Cup, played so aggressively that England ended up with multiple injuries, including a broken foot. It was one of the roughest international matches ever seen. - Brazil vs. Chile (1989 Copa América - "Maracanazo de la Vergüenza")
A shocking scandal. Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas faked an injury by cutting himself with a razor hidden in his glove, pretending that Brazilian fans had thrown a firework at him. His deception was exposed, leading to Chile being banned from the 1994 World Cup. - Turkey vs. Switzerland (2005 World Cup Qualifier Playoff)
A match that ended in a mass brawl. After Switzerland knocked Turkey out of World Cup qualification, the game ended in a shocking post-match fight with punches and kicks flying between players and staff. FIFA called it one of the darkest moments in football history. - Argentina vs. England (1966 World Cup - "Battle of Wembley")
Dirty fouls, unsporting behavior, and a red card controversy. Argentina’s captain Antonio Rattín was sent off but refused to leave the pitch for several minutes, causing chaos. The match was filled with rough play, deepening the long-standing tension between the two nations. After the match, England manager Alf Ramsey infamously called the Argentine players animals. Antonio Rattin says to this day that the episode was "a complete injustice". Watch the interview with him and the the story of the match on YouTube: At the start of the England-Argentina rivalry.
From violent tackles to full-blown fights, these matches have gone down in history for all the wrong reasons. But there are two others I also keep in mind:
Leeds United vs. Barcelona
Leeds United vs. Barcelona (1975 European Cup Semi-Final)
Not as openly violent as some of the matches above, but still one of the most unfair and scandalous games in European football history. Leeds United knock Barcelona out of the European Cup semi final in 1975. The tackles flying in from both sides.
First Leg (Elland Road, Leeds)
Leeds won 2-1, but Barcelona already felt that English teams played too aggressively.
Second Leg (Camp Nou, Barcelona)
What should have been a tense football battle turned into a refereeing scandal that left Leeds players and fans furious.
Key Controversies:
Leeds’ Terry Yorath made a brutal challenge on Johan Cruyff, cutting his leg open. Shockingly, no red card was given.
Multiple Leeds penalty claims ignored – Barcelona players got away with blatant fouls inside the box.
Crowd riots – When Leeds secured a 1-1 draw (winning 3-2 on aggregate), angry Barcelona fans threw missiles and even seats onto the pitch.
Leeds` McQueen sent of for punching down a player.
Why Was It So Ugly?
Brutal tackles – Both teams played rough, with Leeds using their physical style and Barcelona retaliating.
Refereeing scandal – The French referee seemed to favor Barcelona, leading to outrage.
Fan violence – At full-time, police had to escort Leeds players off the pitch for their safety.
Aftermath:
Leeds reached the final but lost to Bayern Munich in another controversial match with more questionable refereeing decisions.
This match remains one of the dirtiest and most unfair semi-finals in European Cup history.
Barcelona v Leeds: 1975 European Cup Semi-Final - 2nd Leg
Leeds United - Chelsea
The most brutal match in English Football History: Leeds United - Chelsea The Rivalry. The story of 1970's FA Cup final between Leeds United and Chelsea,
Watch the match on YouTube Leeds United - Chelsea.
1970 FA Cup final on Wikipedia. The 1970 FA Cup final was contested by Chelsea and Leeds United. The match took place on 11 April 1970 at Wembley Stadium and ended 2–2, making it the first FA Cup final to require a replay since 1912.
As told, football could sometimes be an all-out battlefield compared to today’s game. If some of those brutal clashes were played under modern rules, teams would struggle to keep 11 men on the pitch. Defenders got away with what would be criminal charges now, and even goalkeepers weren’t safe from full-force collisions.
The mentioned matches left a dark mark on football history, showcasing its ugliest moments. But despite these incidents, football remains a beautiful game, full of magic, emotion, and unforgettable moments.
In a world often divided by differences, football reminds us of our shared passion, emotions, and dreams. At its best, football is more than competition. It’s a symbol of togetherness, proving that no matter where we come from, we all speak the same love for the game.
Modern football, with stricter rules, VAR, and a greater focus on player safety, has cleaned up the game massively. But it does make you wonder - would those old-school hardmen even survive in today's game? Or would modern players struggle in the warzones of the past?
Stein Morten Lund, January 2025
Additional information
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What short video: Football in the 70s was brutal and brilliant on YouTube.
Additional comment to the article by the Chief-In-Editor Stein Morten Lund:
As I look back to English football in the '70s and '80s, there are some players that strikes my mind for being brutal: these are Norman Hunter ("Bites Yer Legs"), Ron "Chopper" Harris, and Vinnie Jones wouldn’t last five minutes without getting red-carded today. Some others were Roy Keene, Tommy Smith, Neil McRuddock. Back then, crunching two-footed tackles and elbows were just "part of the game." Now? Straight to VAR, red card, possibly a ban. Some of the hardest players could sometimes give a impression that they were more interested in breaking the opponents than kicking the ball. Defenders used to get away with things that would land them criminal charges today - some tackles were borderline assault! Even goalkeepers weren't safe, with strikers clattering into them at full force. There were also some very brutal players elsewhere in the world.
The most brutal and hardest football players in history
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