Year Ender 2024: From end of Ronaldo-Messi era to Euro 2024 scandals – Top controversial moments in Football

The Year 2024 is coming to an end and it has been a wild year in terms of Football. Be it from VAR controversies to Doping scandals in the Premier League, the year 2024 had it all. Apart from these, the Cristiano Ronaldo and the Lionel Messi saga too ended this year. However, Indian Football was rocked by the controversy that shrouded the sacking of head coach Igor Stimac.

VAR Controversies

The year 2024 hosted the Euro 2024 and the Copa America among the major tournaments in the Calendar year. However, in Euro 2024, a major controversy arose regarding the usage of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.

From match results being affected to widespread criticism from fans and players, the Euro 2024 fell massive victim to the wrongful implications of the VAR. The most notable example is Denmark’s Joachin Andersen’s goal being disallowed against Germany. Later on in the game, a penalty was awarded against the Danes.

Dutch legend and football manager Ronald Koeman too expressed his displeasure claiming the VAR has been disrupting the free flow of football.

It can’t be a major tournament without some controversies, right? But Euro 2024 had it all. A plethora of scandals rocked the Euros. From racist and xenophobic chants by crowds to inflammatory celebrations, the tournament had it all.

From crowd fights in Turkey matches to hooliganism by England and Dutch fans in the streets, all played a crucial role in the downplay of Euro 2024. Things took a huge turn when the match crowd seemed to lose their sanity and went on to throw objects on the pitch.

Igor Stimac’s Dismissal from AIFF

Another major controversy happened in Indian Football. The Indian Football Team has been in shambles in 2024. The team didn’t manage to win a single match in the entire year and then went on to lose their third-round qualifying spot for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. In thee meantime, Sunil Chhetri decided to hang up his boots after a long and glorious career.

Amidst all this drama, the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) went on to sack head coach Igor Stimac. The Croat then went on to complain that his sacking had been unjust while his compensation remained unpaid. Reports claim that the issue was however resolved after the AIFF went on to settle by paying the manager a sum of $400,000.

End of Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi Era

The year 2024 also saw the end of the Ronaldo-Messi era in Football. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were absent in the shortlist of the Ballon d’Or for the very first time in over a decade and a half. This goes on to prove that world domination of the Portuguese and the Argentine have finally come to an end and it is time for the new generation.

The final main in the coffin came in the FIFA The Best Award ceremony where Messi failed to make the top 11. He was ranked 12th, making it the first time in long years that either Messi or Ronaldo missed out on the award.

Real Madrid boycotts Ballon d’Or Ceremony

Spanish giants Real Madrid decided to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony. This move came after Real Madrid got to know that ace Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr who was tipped to win the award will lose out to Manchester City‘s Rodri.

Los Blancos then went on to claim that if Vinicius wasn’t the winner then either Jude Bellingham or Dani Carvajal deserved to win the award. Club president Florentino Perez angrily replied that for the club, Ballon d’Or doesn’t exist.