Both in the qualifiers and the finals tournament, there have been numerous infamous handballs. Here, Goal takes a look at the top 10
Getty ImagesDjalma Santos (Brazil) vs Czechoslovakia – 1962
This incident has almost been entirely forgotten about contrary to many other controversies. Brazil were 2-1 ahead in the final with just 20 minutes to go when Djalma Santos deliberately handled the ball in his own area.
The referee did not give a penalty and the European outfit never recovered. They conceded their third goal before the end as Brazil ran out as 3-1 winners to prevent Czechoslovakia from winning their first ever World Cup.
AdvertisementJoe Jordan (Scotland) vs Wales – 1977
In a heated World Cup qualifier between the British rivals, Wales needed to win to all-but confirm a place at the following summer's tournament in Argentina.
It was a tight affair and was 0-0 heading into the final 10 minutes. This was until Scotland forward Joe Jordan had the ball under pressure from Wales' David Jones before he punched the ball in the penalty area.
Unbelievably the referee thought that it was Jones who handled it and awarded Scotland a penalty, which was converted, before a late goal from Kenny Dalglish secured the win for Scotland as they advanced to the World Cup.
Getty ImagesMario Kempes (Argentina) vs Poland – 1978
This was host nation Argentina's first game in Group B in the second round. Mario Kempes put his side into the lead against Poland in the first half with a header.
But, just as Poland thought they were about to equalise from a corner, Kempes dived across the goal and punched the ball away to concede a penalty.
Amazingly, Poland missed the resulting penalty, and Kempes scored again to double Argentina's advantage later in the game. The striker went onto score two more in the final against Netherlands as Argentina lifted the trophy.
GettyDiego Maradona (Argentina) vs England – 1986
Without doubt the most famous handball in football history came during the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup between England and Argentina.
With the score at 0-0 in the second half, Maradona was chasing down a mis-hit clearance from England's Steve Hodge, and he rose above Peter Shilton and used the outside of his left hand to punch the ball into the empty net.
The referee failed to spot the handball and, just minutes later, Maradona would dribble past half of the England team and score the so-called 'Goal of the Century' to put his side two goals ahead. The Three Lions got a goal back, but Argentina held on to win 2-1 before going on to lift the trophy World Cup.