It’s high time that the FIFA agrees to the installation of video technology. The number of controversial decisions is increasing match by match and these wrong decisions can be match changing. We know that ‘to err is human,’ however these errors could be prevented by using the video technology. Anyway, until that time comes there will be plenty of fodder for articles like these! In a soccer scoreboards feature, I have taken a look at the most controversial and worst refereeing decisions made in the history of soccer.
Lucky Manchester United
In 2005 when Manchester United were playing Tottenham Hotspur, Roy Carroll, Man U’s goalkeeper, disastrously dropped a shot from Pedro Mendes, and the ball clearly went two yards behind the line. Carroll instantly realized his mistake and grabbed the ball out of the net as fast as he could. It was clearly a goal though, but somehow the referees didn’t see this, and to Tottenham’s disgust, it was not counted.
Frank Lampard at the 2010 World Cup
We all can recall this incident as it was the most astonishing decision of the tournament. With the soccer scoreboards showing that England were a goal behind, Lampard shot from 20 yards, the ball hit the bar and clearly went over the goal line. As Lampard turned to celebrate with his team mates, he was shocked to see that the referee has disallowed it. What about the assistant referee? How did he not see this clear goal? This remains a mystery until this very day.
The Nou Camp Incident
Everyone is talking about Massimo Busacca’s controversial decision during the Arsenal vs Barcelona match in the 2ng leg of the Champions League. Busacca sent off Robin Van Persie for shooting offside after he blew the whistle. Van Persie argued that he could not hear the ref’s whistle as the stadium was to loud. The time difference between the shot and the whistle was only a second, and most people agree that the red card was a complete injustice to the Gunners keeping in mind the vital position Van Persie holds in the team. He is a key player for them, and the sending off ruined any chance Arsenal had of progressing. The home team went on to win the match 3-1 and 4-3 aggregate.
3 yellow cards for one player!
Surprised? You should be. Graham Poll was known as the best referee until the 2006 World Cup. In a group match between Australia and Croatia in the 2006 World Cup, the English referee showed Josip Simunic, a Croatian player, 3 yellow cards before sending him off the field. The player was issued the warning thrice before he was red carded. This howler forced Graham Poll to subsequently retire from refereeing in international tournaments.
For more information on this last incident, go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Poll