Is this 2024's Most Controversial Goal? Chile Striker Eduardo Vargas Sparks Mass Brawl Against Bolivia

Chile striker Eduardo Vargas scored a controversial goal against Bolivia after he refused to stop playing when the opposition goalkeeper fell injured.

His side eventually slipped to a shock home defeat after Miguel Terceros helped Bolivia regain the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

This gave them the first win in Chile in their history and the first away win in a World Cup qualifier since 1993.

However, both teams remain well off the pace in the battle for a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, although the away side did leapfrog their rivals in the table, having won nine points from eight matches.

But the international tie will forever be remembered for how Chile scored their equalizer, with the incident leading to a fierce scuffle immediately after.

Receiving the ball just outside his area in the 39th minute, Carlos Lampe falls to the floor and immediately raises his arm to signal that he needs assistance from the bench.

Vargas, who is charging the goalkeeper down, completely ignores this, however, and races onto the ball before walking it into the net.

The contentious nature of the equaliser was exacerbated by a joyous celebration which sees the forward raise his arms into the air as the ball rolls in before forming a love heart with his hands which he shows to the ecstatic crowd.

This caused a massive fracas involving both sets of players. First, Bolivian midfielder Robson Matheus races across to Vargas and expresses his disapproval of how he scored.

Referee Juan Gabriel Benítez, from Paraguay, then struggles to keep a lid on the players' emotions with men from each side pushing and shoving one another, as the away keeper Gabriel Arias sprints the length of the pitch to get in on the action.

Vargas then doubles down on the celebration, appearing to cheer as he runs away from the hubbub - before returning to the fray to make his opinions clear once again.

All the while, Lampe lies almost motionless on the turf, and the goalkeeper was later found to have ruptured his right Achilles tendon, infobae reports.

The Bolivian team said in a statement: 'The operation will be carried out at the MEDS Clinic in Santiago, Chile, at the end of the afternoon on Wednesday, September 11, to immediately begin the recovery process.'

The keeper was then stretchered off, visibly emotional with his head in his hands, as the brawl continued.

The goal was allowed to stand as Benitez saw no need to give a foul and the incident did not involve a head injury. Therefore, play was allowed to continue and Vargas could stroll the ball into an open net unchallenged.

Immediately after the bizarre goal, Bolivia got their redemption with Miguelito completing an exceptional move to restore the lead.

There had been a discussion between the two captains, which some interpreted as involving a potential walk-in goal for the away side, but no agreement was reached.