The world of sports in 2024 was marked by a series of controversies that sparked global debate and attracted national attention in various fields. From cricket and football to chess and tennis, athletes, governing bodies and officials are embroiled in disputes that question the integrity of the sport. These disputes ranged from disciplinary issues and corruption allegations to disputes over governance and unfair decisions. While India was at the center of several controversies, including wrestling and soccer, the issues went far beyond its borders and had global implications. Here are the top 10 sports controversies of 2024. Each reflects the increasing complexity and challenges facing the sporting world.
1. Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic disqualification
In a shocking turn of events, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics hours before her historic gold medal match in the women’s 50kg category. Phogat, one of India’s medal favorites, was 100 grams overweight at the morning weigh-in on the day of the final. Indian officials and Vinesh’s coaches did everything they could to justify the United World Wrestling (UWW) verdict that disqualified the Indian athlete and stripped him of the silver medal he was guaranteed. Nothing changed. Despite an appeal by the Indian Olympic Association to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) demanding a silver medal from Vinesh, Vinesh announced his retirement from wrestling the next day and returned to India empty-handed. CAS said the UWW’s rules were strict, but ruled against Phogat’s request for a silver medal. His disqualification sparked massive protests in India, with fans and players saying the decision was unfair.
2. Imane Kelif Gender Law
Algerian boxer Imane Kherif won gold at the Paris Olympics, but her victory was marred by a controversial gender eligibility issue. The controversy erupted during the Olympics in August after Kerif suffered a serious nose injury and withdrew from the match in tears just 46 seconds into her comfortable victory over Italian boxer Angela Carini. The incident sparked widespread debate about gender politics in sports. , It has attracted attention from celebrities such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and author JK Rowling, known for the Harry Potter series. Furthermore, Kerif had previously been suspended from women’s boxing for failing a private gender test, so many argued that she should not have been allowed to participate in the women’s division.
3. PCB vs BCCI in Champions Trophy 2025
In cricket, the ongoing feud between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) resulted in the two boards clashing over the venue for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. It took a dramatic turn. The PCB accused the BCCI of unfairly blocking Pakistan’s right to host the tournament despite Pakistan being the original host country. The BCCI disputed this, saying political tensions between India and Pakistan made it impossible to host the tournament in Pakistan. The BCCI told the ICC that the Indian government has not given it permission to travel to Pakistan. The controversy intensified after the PCB threatened to withdraw from future ICC events, leading to calls for a neutral venue for the tournament. After several meetings, the ICC finally came up with a hybrid model for next year’s Champions Trophy.
4. Sanjiv Goenka and KL Rahul Supat in IPL 2024
The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) was headlined by a public spat between team owner Sanjeev Goenka and batsman KL Rahul. The dispute began after Rahul, then captain of Goenka-led Lucknow Super Giants, faced a series of poor performances in the tournament. Goenka, known for his outspoken nature, publicly criticized Rahul and a heated argument erupted between the two after the IPL group stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The aftermath of this public controversy made headlines, with many questioning the franchise owner’s role in micromanaging players. Questions arose about the pressures placed on athletes in a high-stakes commercial environment like the IPL. Rahul was later released by LSG and picked up by Delhi Capitals. INR14 billion in IPL mega auction.
5. Magnus Carlsen disqualified from World Rapid and Blitz due to dress code
Chess icon Magnus Carlsen has been controversially disqualified from the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship after being accused of violating the event’s dress code. Carlsen attended the convention wearing jeans, which organizers claimed violated formal attire regulations. FIDE fined the five-time world champion and advised him to change into formal attire immediately, but the Norwegian grandmaster refused. Carlsen said this became a battle of principles for him. The defending champions subsequently withdrew from the Blitz competition.
6. Real Madrid boycott Ballon d’Or
In a bold and unprecedented move, Spanish soccer club Real Madrid has announced that it will boycott the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2024, citing bias in the voting system. The club were surprised to hear that Manchester City’s Rodri, rather than Manchester City’s Vinicius Junior, would be taking home the prestigious award. Vinicius secured second place in the overall points standings, with Madrid team-mates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal also impressing in the standings.
7. Jannik Sinner’s doping violation
Tennis star Jannik Sinner faces doping charges after an independent investigation found traces of banned substances in his urine sample. The culprit vehemently denied the accusation. In March, Sinner received positive results on two different drug tests. In response, the World Anti-Doping Agency challenged the decision to acquit him in September. The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to make a final decision early next year. Meanwhile, Ms Sinner revealed that a banned performance-enhancing substance accidentally entered her body during a massage by a physiotherapist who applied a steroid-containing spray to treat a cut on her finger.
8. Igor Stimac and AIFF conflict
Igor Stimac’s time as the head coach of the Indian men’s soccer team has ended on a disappointing note. The former Croatian national team centre-back and manager was unable to lead his team to the AFC third round in 2026 following back-to-back losses at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. ) was dismissed. FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Stimac sparked a public spat with the AIFF after his dismissal, accusing the organization of being “full of lies” while claiming that Indian football was “in jail”. He subsequently filed a complaint with FIFA for alleged breach of contract and secured compensation of $400,000.
9. Protest against FIFA over allocation of 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia
FIFA’s decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia has sparked a backlash from rights groups, citing the country’s human rights record. The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) said it “votes with applause against FIFA’s awarding of the rights to host the 2030 and 2034 World Cups” and “formally criticized the process in a letter to the world governing body”. I did,” he added.
10. F1 budget cap violation
The F1 community has been shaken by revelations of budget cap violations by several teams, including some of the sport’s biggest names. Governing body the FIA has launched an investigation into the allegations, claiming the teams exceeded the allowed funding limits to increase their competitiveness. The violation threatened to undermine the integrity of the sport, especially in a season expected to be highly competitive. Some teams were given serious penalties, including fines and point deductions, adding fuel to the controversy. The incident raised concerns about the need for financial transparency and stronger regulations in motorsport.
