Photo by Flickr – Ben Sutherland
While the role of the referee remains the same within any game of football, the way in which a referee performs can have a huge impact on the fortunes of any given club or player.
Often in the firing line from fans, the role of a referee is an unenviable one for many but the increased professionalism in world football has transcended into the refereeing sphere too.
The advent of VAR in the mid 2010’s was set to end most refereeing debates, with human error seemingly a thing of the past but by the mid 2020’s, controversial refereeing decisions remain very much part of the footballing fabric.
Punters with old and new football betting sites are having to factor in the potential dangers a controversial refereeing call can have on their bets and markets such as the number of cards awarded in a match are now available with many football bookmakers.
Every team and fan remembers a match where the referee has played a part in them not getting the result they wanted and here is a rundown of some of the most controversial refereeing decisions in football history:
The Ghost Goal
Watford vs Reading, 2008
Championship fixtures rarely create too much traction in the wider sporting world but Reading’s visit to Watford in 2008 caused a real commotion.
Blunder merchant Stuart Atwell was the man in the middle at Vicarage Road in the infancy of his career and he, along with his linesmen, managed to oversee what was quickly coined as the ‘ghost goal’.
Reading picked up an early corner, which was headed and kicked towards goal in a goal-mouth scramble, but Watford stood firm and made a couple of blocks and clearances – or so they thought.
Atwell was flagged over by his assistant to inform him that the ball had crossed the line and that he should award a goal. Duly, the young referee did just that, handing Reading a 1-0 lead, for an attempt on goal that was nowhere near crossing the line.
Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd was sent off for his protests, as Reading went on to draw 2-2 and earn a point heaped in controversy.
Mistaken Identity
Chelsea vs Arsenal, 2014
Arsene Wenger’s status at Arsenal remains firmly intact but his 1000th game in charge of the club was shrouded in controversy.
A visit to London rivals Chelsea was never going to be easy for the Gunners and within 10 minutes they found themselves 2-0 down to goals from Samuel Eto’o and Andre Schurrle.
However, this was the tip of the iceberg for Arsenal, who conceded a penalty following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s handball on the goal line from an Eden Hazard shot.
There was no denying that a red card was the correct punishment but Inexplicably, referee Andre Marriner sent off Kieran Gibbs instead, in one of the most blatant shows of mistaken identity in football history.
Compounding the chaos for Arsenal, Hazard stepped up to net the penalty and Chelsea went on to win 6-0 in West London.
Three Yellow Cards
Croatia vs Australia, 2006
Graham Poll was sent to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany to fly the flag for English and Premier League refereeing but much like the English team, he made an early exit from the tournament.
Croatia vs Australia in the group stages didn’t carry too much weight to it, especially as the Croatians had already qualified for the knockout rounds, but Poll ensured the match would be written into the annuls of footballing history.
No nonsense defender Josip Simunic picked up a yellow card for a tangle with Mark Viduka, resulting in a yellow card, before he hacked down Josh Kennedy shortly after, receiving another booking.
With everybody expecting Simunic to be given his marching orders, Poll seemingly forgot that he had already booked the Croatian number 3 and play continued.
The situation exacerbated even further for Poll, who then booked Simunic again for dissent – finally sending the Croatian off but the game will always be remembered for 3 yellow cards being shown to the same player.
VAR Meltdown
Tottenham vs Liverpool, 2023
When Tottenham and Liverpool clash in the Premier League, there tends to be plenty of drama and intrigue, but nothing can surpass the chaos that ensued at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2023.
VAR had already had its say in the game, as Curtis Jones’s yellow card was upgraded to a red on review, but Liverpool had plenty of right to feel aggrieved by the events that followed.
With the score at 0-0, Luis Diaz thought he had put Liverpool ahead, despite an offside flag going up. On review, Diaz was clearly onside, a decision those in the VAR booth verbally agreed with.
However, the team in charge of the VAR decisions told the referee not to award the goal, instead of telling him to award the goal, in one of the most remarkable breakdowns in communication in top level sport.
Things went from bad to worse for Liverpool, were then reduced to 9-men before conceding a late goal and handing Spurs all three points.
Hand Of God
Argentina vs England, 1986
Diego Maradona’s place as one of the greatest footballers of all-time is unquestioned but his goal for Argentina against England in the 1986 World Cup will always be his most famous.
In a tight game between two great rivals, set against the backdrop of a conflict between the two countries relating to the Falkland Islands, the match was supercharged and Maradona’s actions defined it.
Early in the second half, a pass was deflected and looping back to England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, before Maradona nipped in and punched the ball over England’s number one and into the net.
Time appeared to stand still for England, who all expected the referee to blow for handball but alas, the whistle never came, and Argentina were awarded the goal.
Showing his true brilliance, Maradona went on to score once again, as Argentina won the game 2-1 but his goal and his coining of the strike as the ‘Hand of God’, ignited a rage within plenty of England fans for decades to come.
