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FIFA corruption scandal in 2015
Even the beautiful game is not immune to controversies. Over the year, many have plagued the world of football but none have had ramifications as severe as this. FIFA, the governing body for world football, was found guilty of multiple counts of bribery after an investigation conducted by US federal agents in tandem with the FBI and the IRS opened up a can of worms too big for anyone to sweep under the rug.
According to the investigation, FIFA was involved in wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering and even corrupting the marketing and media rights for FIFA games in the Americas and was concentrated on collusion between members from different continental football governing bodies.
Allegations ranged from bribes to get South Africa their maiden World Cup bid in 2010 to bring 2016's Copa America Centenario to the United States of America and even accepting hefty sums to award the 2022 World Cup bid to Qatar, a decision that has not sat well with the footballing community ever since it was made in 2011.
A total of 22 individual indictments were made initially targeting many bigwigs from FIFA before another 17 were picked up in the second indictment. Two companies were also indicted in the process.
Blatter was hounded during the process and even had a stack of money thrown at him by a comedian during a press conference but as you can see below, he failed to see the humour in the situation.
Blatter eventually resigned a disgraced former president and has not been anywhere near administrative football since.
Lance Armstrong's doping scandal in 2012
Perhaps the biggest fall from grace for one individual has to go to Lance Armstrong. A man who was at one point in the time the embodiment of willpower and determination, Armstrong was a hero not just to cycling enthusiasts but millions around the world for his incredulous story.
Here was a man who had battled testicular cancer and lived to tell the tale. If that wasn't enough, he then one-upped himself by winning the Tour de France, the world's most prestigious multi-stage cycle race 7 times in a row, becoming only the second American to win the title with his first triumph in 1999.
At that time, Armstrong was an inspiration known worldwide for his superlative feats on two wheels and his Livestrong Foundation that looks to help people battling cancer across the world.
The American dominated the sport during the first half of the new millennium and always maintained that he always rode clean. It was also said that throughout his career, Armstrong had never tested positive in a drug test. Sadly, for him, his lies were found out.
In 2004, he was owed a bonus amount of $5 million from SCA Promotions for winning his 6th tour title but they didn't want to pay because they believed Armstrong was indeed doping. This snowballed into what became a federal investigation led by the US Department of Justice that ran for two years.
Former teammates of his were called to testify against Armstrong. The United States Anti Doping Agency also got involved before finally finding Armstrong guilty of using performance enhancing drugs, steroids and blood transfusions, going back all the way to 1996.
Armstrong was banned from participating in cycling and triathlon and stripped of the 7 Tour titles he won between 1999 and 2005, before finally admitting to using PEDs in 2013.
Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix crash scandal (Crashgate) in 2009
Well, where do we begin for this one? How about the starting grid of the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore in 2008. It was the maiden Grand Prix in the South East Asian nation, set to play out under the dazzling city lights and bring glitz and glamour to the sport. Instead, it became one of the most dastardly acts of cheating Formula 1 has ever seen.
Renault were a team struggling to keep pace with the likes of Ferrari, McLaren and BMW on the track and one waiting for their first win since Suzuka in 2006. After a dismal 2007 campaign with no podiums, the team brought back Fernando Alonso to try and be competitive again. That was a hill too steep even for the two-time champion to climb given how far ahead the competition was. So, Renault's managing director, Flavio Briatore and executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds got creative.
Enter Alonso's teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr.. Son of a three-time world champion, the Brazilian came in ahead of Heikki Kovalainen because the latter could have been a threat for Alonso in the title race. Renault wanted a yes man at the wheel of their second car who would drive for the team and do whatever was asked of him and they got just that in Piquet Jr.
Going into the 15th race of the season in Singapore, Renault did not manage to score anything better than the fourth position and even Toro Rosso had won the race prior to Singapore. Sebastian Vettel took an unfancied backmarker and mastered the rain-marred Monza to truly announce himself to the world and also pick up Toro Rosso's only F1 win to this day.
Things didn't go to plan in qualifying for the French side, with Alonso starting 15th and his teammate right behind him in 16th. The race began and all seemed normal till Alonso made his way to the pits on Lap 12 to change tires. People seemed baffled by his early pitstop but their focus soon shifted to the other Renault that rammed into a barrier at Turn 17 two laps later, bringing the Safety Car out.
All of a sudden, Alonso's early stop became a turning point as he shot up the grid to take the lead while everyone else pitted and he held on for the win.
Nothing was made of it at the time, especially with Alonso getting a win in Suzuka in the next round but when Piquet Jr. was dropped by the team post the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2009, he decided to come out and say that the crash in Singapore was deliberate and caused at the instructions of Briatore. The FIA launched an investigation and ultimately found Renault to be guilty of conspiracy in September of that year.
Briatore and Symonds were initially banned for life but later that ruling was overturned. They did, however, agree not to be a part of any FIA sanctioned events for a certain amount of time. Alonso remained in Formula 1 but never did become world champion again.
He did win the Indy Car 500 and is still looking for a Le Mans win to complete the triple crown, having already won the Monaco Grand Prix as an F1 driver. Piquet went on to become a Formula E world champion and is currently pursuing stock car racing in his native Brazil.
