Fans put finger on 'biggest football cheats'

The research also found football fans believe handling a ball to score is one of the worst forms of cheating – suggesting Diego Maradona's infamous "hand of God" goal against England almost 25 years ago is still at the forefront of people's minds.

Sheffield University has gauged the views of more than 500 supporters across different nations competing in this year's tournament in South Africa.

The research, carried out by academics at the university's Institute of Work Psychology, found Argentina and reigniting champions Italy were regarded as the worst culprits..

Fans were asked what forms of cheating they most objected to and whether they would disapprove of these actions by their own players.

Just under 80 per cent of respondents disapproved of pretending to have been attacked by an opposition player. This was closely followed by diving to win a penalty, handling the ball to score, and exaggerating an injury.

Perceptions varied by nationality, with Italian and Spanish fans the least likely to consider diving in the penalty area as cheating.

Academics also asked fans which nation they considered to be their country's biggest rivals. In many cases this corresponded with who supporters expected to be the most likely to cheat.

One exception to this was the answers given by English football fans – with 60 per cent naming Germany as their biggest rivals but only one per cent rating them as the most likely to cheat.

The survey forms part of a wider study, which will record cheating throughout the World Cup to examine whether it is caused by personal attitudes, the approach of a team or the situation during a game.

Sheffield University's Dr Chris Stride said: "The way in which fans' disapproval of cheating varies according to the perpetrator and the offence is fascinating, and we look forward to seeing if supporters' moral judgment and prejudice are shared by their nation's players, and borne out during the tournament."