FIFA has banned country from the World Cup in row over razor blade

FIFA once banned a country from the World Cup after a bizarre row involving a razor blade.

Two teams have been 'banned' from the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Russia have been suspended by FIFA since before the qualifiers began due to their 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while the football federation of Congo was suspended earlier this year.

In Congo's case, they were not suspended from qualifying for the World Cup, but their federation pulled the team out of their remaining fixtures.

Pakistan's football federation, meanwhile, was suspended due to third-party interference. But they were already eliminated from Asian qualifying and the ban was lifted shortly after.

But they are not the only teams ever to be banned from the World Cup - with Yugoslavia and South Africa previously suspended due to varying political reasons.

Back in 1989, meanwhile, Chile were embroiled in major controversy after an incident involving goalkeeper Roberto Rojas.

Orlando Aravena's side went into their final South American qualifying match against Brazil knowing that they had to win to top their group.

Ahead of the World Cup, teams in South America were split into three qualifying groups - minus Argentina, who won in 1986 - with the top two highest-performing group winners automatically qualifying for the 1990 tournament in Italy.

But Chile went behind against Brazil in the Maracana through Napoli striker Careca.

Heading into the final 25 minutes of the contest, they were still a goal behind - but suddenly everything changed.

Chile goalkeeper Roberto Rojas fell to the ground and was seen bleeding from his head.

The 32-year-old claimed that a flare thrown from the Brazilian fans had caused his injury. The match was subsequently abandoned.

But all was not as it seemed.

After being questioned by CONMEBOL authorities, Rojas eventually admitted to having cut himself with a razor blade, hidden in one of his gloves, to cause the bleeding.

He also stated that Chile coach Aravena had asked that he and team doctor Daniel Rodriguez stay on the pitch, with the purpose of either forcing an abandonment or a third match on neutral soil, or even for Brazil to be disqualified.

Following the investigation, FIFA decided to award the victory to Brazil as a 2-0 walkover, and banned Chile from qualifying for the 1994 World Cup - though this was solely due to the match being abandoned.

34 años del "Maracanazo del Cóndor Rojas". El 3 de septiembre de 1989, Chile y Brasil se enfrentaban en el Maracaná por un cupo al Mundial de 1990. Con Chile en desventaja, el arquero Roberto Rojas simuló ser herido por una bengala lanzada desde la grada. El engaño buscaba… pic.twitter.com/x22DC8sNq2

— Ricardo Canchanya N🅤ñez (@007Richard) September 3, 2024

Rojas, meanwhile, was handed a lifetime ban from football, with the incident marking his final act as a professional football player.

The ban was lifted in 2001, but Rojas was aged 43 at that time and subsequently took a coaching role at Brazilian giants Sao Paulo - the club he was playing for at the time of the infamous saga.

The Scotsman report that the goalkeeper still lived there as of 2014, though he has not commented publicly about his actions since giving an interview to a Chinese television channel in 1990.