10 Controversies & Scandals That Rocked Liverpool

By Joseph Dempsey /

9. The Bruce Grobbelaar Match Fixing Allegations

Bruce Grobbelaar should be remembered as a Liverpool legend. The Goalkeeper won thirteen medals in a thirteen-year career at Anfield but his legacy ended up in tatters over match fixing allegations, a well-documented court case and, in the end, bankruptcy. In 1994 The Sun newspaper caught the Zimbabwean admitting in a bugged hotel room to receiving £40,000 for fixing a Liverpool-Newcastle game in 1993 and was also captured on camera accepting £2,000 in part-payment for throwing future games. The jury at a 1997 court case failed to reach a verdict over the allegations and Grobbelaar was acquitted, while he also won £85,000 in damages after accusing The Sun of libel. The Court of Appeal later ruled this a miscarriage of justice, however, and the shot-stopper was ordered to pay The Sun€™s £500,000 legal costs. Unable to do so, the goalkeeper was declared bankrupt.