Poor sportsmanship: The biggest villains in world sport

NICK Kyrgios was branded the “most hated man in tennis” after Wimbledon. But his show of poor sportmanship pales in comparison to these misdemeanours.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios argues with the umpire about a line call at Wimbledon - but was it really that bad in the grand scheme of things?

NICK Kyrgios was labelled by some international media as the “most hated man in tennis” after Wimbledon.

But where do his antics really sit on the grand scale of poor sportsmanship? They may pale in comparison to the low acts and dirty tactics used by these sports villains.

MORE: KYRGIOS BLAMES WIMBLEDON LOSS ON ‘EXTERNAL BULLS--T’

MORE: KYRGIOS THE ‘MOST HATED MAN IN TENNIS’

MORE: DAWN FRASER APOLOGISES FOR KYRGIOS RANT

Lance Armstrong thought he got away with it.

1. The big lie

Cyclist Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times in a row — except he didn’t. He was stripped of his titles in 2012 after finally admitting to doping. But that wasn’t the worst of it. It was the lying for years on end, ending people’s careers and taking millions of sponsorship money that constituted the worst sportsmanship the world has ever seen.

US ice skater Tonya Harding made sure her main rival was a no-show.

2. Conspiracy on ice

It doesn’t come much more unsportsmanlike than plotting to harm your biggest opponent. But that’s what American figure skater Tonya Harding did. Nancy Kerrigan was struck on the knee with a metal baton in a random attack on the eve of the 1994 US Figure Skating Championships. Harding skated to victory in her absence before her ex-husband was arrested in relation to the attack. She was convicted of conspiracy to hinder prosecution and banned from the sport in the US for life.

Cricketer Trevor Chappell bowls underarm to Brian McKechnie.

3. The underarm

Trevor Chappell’s shameful cricket delivery for Australia against New Zealand in 1981. The wounds are still raw.

Mike Tyson takes a chunk out of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a heavyweight match in Las Vegas, 1997.

4. Raw violence

World heavyweight champion Mike Tyson bit the ear of opponent Evander Holyfield in a 1997 rematch. He was banned from boxing for life.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez bit three opponents ... but his bad habits didn’t end there.

5. Serial biter

Uruguayan soccer star Luis Suarez has been surrounded by controversy his entire career. He has bitten three opponents, the most notable Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. If that wasn’t enough, he was also been accused of a goal line handball at the 2010 World Cup, diving, and racially abusing former Manchester United skipper Patrice Evra.

Ben Johnson was stripped of his medal and disqualified after being revealed as a drug cheat.

6. Steroid gold

In 1987-88 he was the fastest man alive and the scene was set for Olympic gold for Canadian 100m sprinter Ben Johnson. We later found out the performances were all built on a steroid-fuelled lie and he was stripped of his medal.

England is still reeling from this allowed goal in the 1986 Football World Cup.

7. Hand of God

Probably the most famous soccer goal ever scored by probably the world’s most famous soccer player. Argentine Diego Maradona scored a goal against England in the 1986 World Cup that was an unpenalised handling foul that came to be known as the Hand of God.

A 1981 shot of feisty John McEnroe, the original bad boy of tennis.

8. The original tennis brat

Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, we all loved to hate American John McEnroe for his constant complaints towards umpires. His catchcry: “You cannot be serious.”

The Australians stand in disbelief after Stuart Broad refuses to walk following an obvious catch in the first Ashes Test Match against England on July 12, 2013.

9. The non-walk

English cricketer Stuart Broad refused to walk despite being caught in the 2013 Ashes, and we just can’t let it go. After edging a ball from Ashton Agar on to Brad Haddin’s glove, and straight into Michael Clarke’s hands, Broad was saved by a “not out” from umpire Aleem Dar. Despite the obvious catch, he stood his ground. With no reviews left, Australia had no chance of arguing the decision.

Video footage evidence of player John Hopoate’s dirty tactics against an opponent.

10. Hopper

Wests Tigers winger John Hopoate was suspended from the NRL for 12 weeks in 2001 after being found guilty of sticking his fingers up the anuses of three opponents.

Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher crash in a race.

11. Crash bang

German F1 legend Michael Schumacher crashed into Brit Damon Hill and ended his World Championship quest in the final race of the 1994 season.

Hansie Cronje testifies at a hearing into his involvement in match-fixing.

12. Not cricket

Former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje accepted money from bookmakers to underperform during his team’s tour of India in 2000. He was banned from playing and coaching for life, and later was killed during a plane crash.