10 Craziest World Cup Red Cards
2. David Beckham (1998)
Just when England fans think they might have a chance of going all the way in a World Cup, David Beckham goes and ruins it all with one of the most petulant acts ever seen on a football pitch. It was the 1998 World Cup and Beckham had burst onto the stage in style with a beautiful free kick against Colombia in the group stages, helping England into the knockout round, where they faced the old enemy: Argentina.
The game was nicely poised at 2-2, with Michael Owen and Alan Shearer having scored for England. The second half had barely begun when current Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone fouled Beckham, who then decided to kick out at Simeone while lying on the ground, just under the ref’s nose.
Simeone acted like he’d been struck by a bulldozer and the Argentinian players gathered around the referee to protest the incident. Beckham was issued with a red card and, as usual, England went out on penalties. English fans struggled to forgive Beckham for the incident and an effigy wearing a Beckham shirt was famously hanged in London.