The most savage fouls in football history

Football is a beautiful game, when played by the rules, but sometimes players cross the line and almost physically assault their opponents. These fouls went down in history as some of the most brutal ever in football.

Zinedine Zidane was as elegant as can be, especially at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where 'Zizou' led Les Bleus to the final against Italy. Zidane also scored from a spot kick in that game, that went to extra time after a Marco Materazzi goal.

Tension ran high, and Zidane lost his composure when Materazzi reportedly said something about his sister. The French maestro responded by headbutting his Italian opponent and was sent off the pitch in his last game for Les Bleus, who eventually lost on penalties. Oh, the drama.

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Nigel de Jong was widely regarded as one of the toughest and nastiest players in the game, and the Dutchman lived up to that status in the 2010 World Cup final when he attacked Spain's Xabi Alonso like a true karate champion.

Surprisingly, De Jong did not receive a red card for his foul and was allowed to continue the match, which ended in La Roja's favour after a late winning goal by Andrés Iniesta. On that note, justice somehow prevailed.

Like De Jong, Roy Keane had a reputation for not holding back when fighting for the ball with his rivals, and he received many red cards during his otherwise trophy-laden career, the most infamous one of which was against Manchester City in 2001.

Keane's victim was Alf-Inge Haaland, Erling's father, who had attacked the Irishman a few seasons earlier for feigning an injury. Keane did not forget the incident and retaliated with a horrific tackle widely regarded as one of the worst offences ever.

Don't mess with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, or you will get your due. That is what Marco Materazzi experienced in a Milan derby in the 2010/11 season, in which the Swede took revenge for an incident with Materazzi while at Juventus.

Ibrahimovic threw Materazzi a near-perfect kung fu kick and also elbowed him. The Italian defender was reportedly hospitalised after the incident and is likely to think twice before harassing Ibracadabra again.

Andoni Goikoetxea was one of the most fearsome defenders of the 1970s and 1980s. The Basque was nicknamed 'The Butcher of Bilbao', a nickname he received after a league game in September 1983 against Diego Maradona's FC Barcelona.

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Goikoetxea attacked Maradona from behind with a frenzied tackle, breaking the Argentine's ankle. The defender was given an 18-game ban, that was later reduced to six, and created the violent atmosphere that led to a fight between Maradona and several Bilbao players in the 1984 Copa del Rey final.

Axel Witsel has been playing at top level for years, signing for Atlético Madrid in what appear to be the final years of his career. The Belgian is not known as a particularly dirty player, but will always be haunted by what happened in 2009 in a match between RSC Anderlecht and Standard de Liège.

In a duel for the ball on the left side, Witsel plopped his right foot on Marcin Wasilewski, breaking the Polish defender's leg. Witsel was given an eight-match ban and Wasilewski was fortunately able to continue his career after making a full recovery, despite his horror injury.

Another infamous foul in football came in the 1982 World Cup semi-final between West Germany and France, when goalie Harald Schumacher torpedoed Patrick Battiston, without any intention whatsoever to play the ball.

Strangely, the referee did not blow for a foul, while Battiston had to be carted off with two teeth knocked out, three broken ribs and damaged vertebrae and later fell into a coma. The Frenchman reportedly still has back pain as a result of the incident.

Ben Thatcher, who already had a bad reputation after an elbow incident in 2000, was playing for Manchester City when the Citizens took on Portsmouth and Pedro Mendes in 2006. The ball was on the left when Thatcher brought down the Portuguese midfielder with his elbow and Mendes went tumbling down.

Mendes suffered a seizure and had to be administered oxygen on the pitch. Strangely, Thatcher got away with just a yellow card, but was suspended for six games by City and a further eight by the FA.

Kevin Muscat too was considered one of football's dirtiest players when he lost control again in 2011, playing for Melbourne Victory against Melbourne Heart and bringing down Adrian Zahra with a horrendous tackle.

Muscat was sent off with a red card and received another eight-match penalty, having just returned from a suspension. Some just never learn.

Last but not least, Ryan Shawcross deserves a spot on this list. Shawcross was playing for Stoke City in 2010, taking on Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal in the Premier League when things went horribly wrong.

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Shawcross miscalculated horribly on Ramsey and hit the young Arsenal player full length, breaking his leg. Arsenal players were shocked, as was Shawcross, who left the pitch crying after being shown a red card. Fortunately, Ramsey was able to return to full form after the incident and built himself a fine career at the Gunners.