Top 6 Football Conspiracy Theories After Van Gaal Claims World Cup Was Rigged for Messi

• Lionel Messi led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy in Qatar
• Louis van Gaal has now controversially alleged that the games were orchestrated in their favour
• Sports Brief takes a look at some of the most noteworthy football conspiracy theories

Lionel Messi's aspirations turned into reality as he led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.

However, Louis van Gaal, whose Netherlands team suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in the quarter-final, has recently alleged that the tournament was rigged to ensure victory for Messi and Argentina.

Van Gaal's startling remarks regarding the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and La Albiceleste's 2022 World Cup triumph have triggered a flurry of intriguing theories.

Conspiracy theories have a remarkable adaptability, making their way into various domains, including the world of football.

Like many other fields, this sport, too, has experienced its fair share of captivating conspiracy theories.

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Here are some of the most noteworthy ones.

Howard Webb, the Red Devil

Numerous football enthusiasts held the belief that Howard Webb, a Premier League referee from 2003 to 2014, had a soft spot for Manchester United, as he appeared to grant them several advantageous decisions.

Former Liverpool player Ryan Babel shared this sentiment and even posted a manipulated image of Webb donning a Manchester United jersey on his Twitter page in 2011.

As a result, Babel faced a £10,000 fine.

In his autobiography, 'The Man in the Middle', Webb felt the need to dismiss the allegations. He penned the following, as reported by the Daily Star:

"Let’s get something straight, once and for all. Contrary to what you might have seen on the internet, I never shared a bed with Sir Alex Ferguson. There is no statue of me outside Old Trafford. My kids are not called Rio, Wayne and Cristiano. There is no Red Devil tattoo inked on my left buttock. The only United I have ever supported - hand on heart - is of the Rotherham variety. And that’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

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UEFAlona

At one point in this century, Barcelona reigned as the greatest team on the global stage. They were achieving victory in every competition that crossed their path.

Whether it was in La Liga, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup, or the Club World Cup, the Catalans were virtually invincible during that era.

However, their reputation was dented, as they were often accused of being helped by the referees in high-profile encounters.

The enduring memory of Barcelona's semi-final victory against Chelsea, marred by Tom Henning Ovrebo's woeful officiating, serves as a significant testament to this scrutiny, overshadowing the teams' actual performance.

This prompted Jose Mourinho to concoct theories regarding Barcelona receiving favourable treatment from UEFA due to their association with UNICEF, whose name was prominently displayed on the front of their jerseys.

1954 World Cup

In 2010, a university study hinted at the possibility that West Germany's victorious team might have received a clandestine doping program.

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The formidable Hungarian squad, led by Ferenc Puskas and others, had convincingly defeated West Germany 8-3 during the group stage, only to later suffer a 3-2 defeat against the same opponents in the final.

"There are several strong indications that point to the injection in some Germany players and not vitamin C as it was claimed," said the sports historian and author Erik Eggers, who conducted the study as part of a team at Humboldt University in Berlin.

2002 World Cup

During the 2002 World Cup held in their home country, South Korea advanced to the semi-finals following victories over Italy in the last-16 and Spain in the quarter-finals.

Byron Moreno's officiating during the Italy vs. South Korea match has given rise to speculation that the tournament might have been manipulated to favour the co-hosts. Furthermore, Moreno's subsequent conviction for drug trafficking adds an intriguing layer to this theory.

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Several controversial decisions seemingly favoured South Korea throughout the tournament, leading to doubts about the officials' integrity.

Ronaldo at France 1998 WC final

In 1998, Ronaldo reached the peak of his footballing prowess, captivating the world as the most electrifying footballer. He made a thunderous impact at the World Cup, notching four goals and providing three assists, propelling Brazil to the final against hosts France.

His exceptional performance earned him the prestigious Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player.

However, a shocking turn of events occurred just hours before the final. Ronaldo suffered a seizure, leading to his initial exclusion from Brazil's starting lineup in the team sheet submitted to match officials.

He struggled to make an impact after being reinstated into the XI as France ultimately claimed a resounding 3-0 victory.

Various theories emerged, spanning from speculation that Ronaldo had been intoxicated to allegations of Brazil accepting bribes in exchange for hosting rights for the 2006 World Cup.

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However, the most enduring conspiracy theory implicated Nike, who had paid a record £105 million to sponsor the team, alleging that they had coerced the 21-year-old into playing.

1966 and 1974 World Cups 'rigged'

Joao Havelange, who served as FIFA president from 1974 to 1998, made the astonishing assertion that the 1966 and 1974 World Cups were manipulated in favour of the host nations (England and Germany, respectively) to secure victory.

The Brazilian told Folha de Sao Paulo in 2008, as reported by Goal:

"In the three matches that the Brazilian national team played in 1966, of the three referees and six linesmen, seven were British and two were Germans. Brazil went out, Pele ‘exited’ through injury [following some rough defensive play], and England and Germany entered into the final, just as the Englishman Sir Stanley Rous, who was the President of FIFA at the time, had wanted.

"In Germany in 1974 the same thing happened. During the Brazil-Holland match, the referee was German, we lost 2-0 and Germany won the title. We were the best in the world, and had the same team that had won the World Cup in 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico, but it was planned for the host countries to win."

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Social media 'conspiracy theory' backs van Gaal

Meanwhile, Sports Brief reported on a conspiracy theory circulating online that backs van Gaal's claim that the 2022 World Cup was orchestrated for Messi to win.

The former manager of the Netherlands has stirred up controversy with surprising allegations implicating Argentina, the veteran captain, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup.