November 20 in Qatar starts the World Cup in Qatar, which already claims to be historical. Many high-profile events happened at the qualifying stage: take at least the sensational relegation of Italy or the outrageous removal of Russia. However, none of these episodes, perhaps, can be compared with the scandal of 33 years ago, which also happened at the selection for the World Cup.

In 1989, a footballer injured himself right during a match with Brazil. Everything so that FIFA disqualifies eminent rivals!

Fire cuts

In September 1989, the national teams of Brazil and Chile met in the 1990 World Cup qualification match at the Maracana Stadium in Rio. This match was the penultimate one in the selection. In the table, the Brazilians and the Chileans had the same number of points, but the Seleçao were in the first line due to the better goal difference. A draw was enough for the Brazilians to qualify for the World Cup, while Chile needed only a victory.

The score in the game was opened only in the 49th minute: the Brazilian striker Careca received the ball from the central circle, beat two defenders, went to the opponent’s goal and delivered an accurate shot. However, after 20 minutes, something happened that will be talked about for many, many years to come. Putting the ball into play from his own goal, Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas immediately collapsed onto the lawn after a burning flare was thrown at him from the stands, where the Brazilian fans were.

Photo: © Craig Foy – SNS Group / Contributor / SNS Group / Gettyimages.com

Several teammates ran to help the goalkeeper, urging doctors to provide assistance as soon as possible. During the work of doctors, the player of the Chilean national team, Patricio Yanes, turned to the stands, took his own genitals and unequivocally depicted sexual intercourse. Later, this gesture was called “Pato Yanes” – “Duck Yanes”. As a result, Chile captain Fernando Astengo decided to take the team off the field in order to protest against the actions of the fans. The match was not completed.

After such a seemingly unequivocal episode, it seemed that the Brazilian national team was in danger of a technical defeat or even more severe punishment. However, the next day after watching the materials from the match, it turned out that Rojas had feigned injuries. A flare thrown from the stands did not hit the goalkeeper, but landed a meter away from him. Seeing the fire lying on the lawn, Roberto purposely fell on the grass and grabbed his head with his hands. Later, no marks of impact or burns were found on the player’s body, however cuts were clearly visible on Rojas’s face.

The trick failed

Such strange injuries on Roberto’s face caused logical questions among the investigators – no one believed that such cuts could be obtained from an abandoned flare. As a result, Rojas nevertheless confessed that he had inflicted cuts on himself with a razor blade hidden in a glove, so that football officials would definitely disqualify Brazil.

Moreover, Chile’s coach Orlando Aravena and Dr. Daniel Rodriguez were also involved in the scam. Both asked Roberto to stay on the field as long as possible so that FIFA representatives would be convinced of the unsafety of the Maracana, appoint a replay on a neutral field, or even award Brazil a forfeit defeat.

Ten days after the incident, FIFA announced a lifetime suspension of Rojas. At the same time, the Chilean national team was awarded a defeat with a score of 0: 2, suspended both from the current qualifying tournament and from qualification for the next 1994 World Cup in the USA.

Maracana Stadium / Photo: © Christopher Pillitz / Contributor / Hulton Archive / Gettyimages.com

But that’s not all. Chilean Football Federation President Sergio Stoppel was fined, national team coach Aravena and Dr. Rodriguez were given life bans, and Chilean captain Astengo was disqualified for five years. Shortly before this, by the way, the police arrested a man who threw a flare. To everyone’s surprise, it turned out to be the 24-year-old Roseneri do Nascimento, who later became a famous Playboy model, nicknamed the Pyro from the Maracana.

After the verdicts were passed, the Chilean media did not recognize the findings of the investigation and accused FIFA President Joao Havelange of falsifying evidence in order to push the Brazilian team into the final of the 1990 World Cup. In front of the Brazilian embassy in Chile, there were even demonstrations that turned into riots.

In 2001, Rojas publicly apologized for his act. After such a revelation, the life ban was removed from the player. So after a couple of years he was able to lead Sao Paulo, although he worked there for a very short time.