The referee’s job is an ungrateful one. The angles, the speed of play and widespread simulation make their work harder than ever. But there are some unacceptable and unjustifiable mistakes that enable supporters to ask for reforms and for the introduction of video replay in the sport. Here are our top 10 refereeing mistakes at the worst times.
Wandering hands
Thierry Henry v. Martin Hansson
France v. Ireland, second leg
Play-off, 2010 World Cup qualifying
In 2009, France and Ireland are pitted against each other in the qualifying play-off for the 2010 World Cup. After 180 minutes, the aggregate score is 1-1 and overtime is necessary. After 15 minutes, Thierry Henry controls a Florent Malouda free kick at the byline and crosses for Gallas who buries it! France can book their tickets to South Africa. But the Irish are furious, and they have a point: Henry uses his hand not once, but twice to control the ball. Those who believe in karma know that what goes around comes around: a few months later, at the southern point of the African continent, mutiny explodes in the French camp. The manager is fired and the team leaves with nothing to show for as early as the group stage. On the refereeing side of things, this infamous episode will push UEFA and FIFA to add referees behind the goal line to have additional eyes close to the penalty area.
Two’s company, three’s a crowd
Josip Šimunić v. Graham Poll
Croatia v. Australia
Group stage, 2006 World Cup
All things come in threes, apparently. This is the only time this old saying could be applied in the referee’s book. As Croatia needs a win to go through to the round of 16, Josip Šimunić (who was born in Australia, ironically) ups his physical game: two fouls at the 61st and 90th minutes result in two yellow cards, but official Graham Poll inexplicably fails to send the Croatian centre back to an early shower and the game ends 2-2. Immediately after the final whistle, Šimunić vents at the English referee who does not hesitate to give him a third yellow card, followed by a red. Justice is served, better late than never…
The hand of God
Diego Maradona v. Ali Bin Nasser
Argentina v. England
Quarter-finals, 1986 World Cup
114,580 against one. The famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico is packed for this quarterfinal game opposing Gary Lineker’s England to Diego Maradona’s Argentina. At the start of the second half, with no score yet, the Albiceleste #10 takes the ball in midfield and passes to Valdano who fails to control, but English midfielder Hodge miscues his clearance which sails toward the penalty spot. Goalkeeper Shilton runs off his line and looks to be the favourite to get to the ball first in this duel against Maradona… who, with his 5-foot-5 frame, tips the ball in the goal! Are the laws of physics really bendable? This is probably what the referee and his assistants, the only ones in the world to have missed “the hand of God,” believe. Four minutes later, Maradona goes from zero to hero by scoring the best goal of the 20th century.
Thomson or Thompson?
Kieran Gibbs v. Andre Marriner
Chelsea v. Arsenal
English Premier League, 2014
For Arsène Wenger’s 1000th game in charge of Arsenal, the Gunners visit Stamford Bridge to face rivals Chelsea. This historic game is best forgotten for North London’s finest – a 6-0 annihilation. With the Blues up 2-0, Eden Hazard sends a shot which looks to be on target and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dives to make the save. Two problems: he is not a ‘keeper, and he uses his hand to tip the ball behind for a corner. After a few seconds of confusion, referee Marriner rightly awards a penalty to Chelsea and sends off… Kieran Gibbs, even though young Oxlade comes forth to admit his part in the crime. Separated at birth? Not that much.
The goal that never was
John Eustace v. Stuart Attwell
Watford v. Reading
English Championship, 2008
The youngest English referee to officiate a Premier League game. This is Stuart Attwell’s branding in 2008 as he jumps on the field for this second division game between Watford and Reading. Only 13 minutes in, Reading sends a corner in the box. The ball appears to go out for a goal kick and all players on the pitch – as well as the crowd at Vicarage Road – do not react to the official’s signals which indicate a goal. A huge mistake that will relegate Attwell to the lower leagues.
Hole in the net
Stefan Kiessling v. Felix Brych
Hoffenheim v. Bayer Leverkusen
Bundesliga, 2013
Here, we can sympathize with Brych, who certainly needed many aspirins in the days following this game. On a corner, Bayer striker Kiessling frees himself from his marker and send a header a few centimetres away from the target, but the ball finds a hole in the netting and ends its run inside the Hoffenheim goal. The “scorer’s” initial reaction is mostly of dismay, but quickly turns to jubilation when his teammates join him to celebrate the “goal”. Bad luck strikes Hoffenheim and Brych, and one more argument goes into the file for video replay.
In, out, in, out, shake it all about
Geoff Hurst v. Gottfried Dienst
England v. West Germany
Final, 1966 World Cup
Here we are at Wembley, London’s mythical stadium, for a World Cup final. After 90 minutes, England and the Federal Republic of Germany are stuck in a 2-2 tie. Overtime will be necessary to determine the world champion. In the 101st minute, Ball crosses for Hurst who controls before turning and shooting on the crossbar. The ball rebounds on the line? Behind the line? No one is really sure to this day, but the referee and the linesman give the goal to the English, who will steam toward their only world title – but not before Hurst completed his hat trick to make it 4-2.
Karma strikes
Frank Lampard v. Jorge Larrionda
England v. Germany
Round of 16, 2010 World Cup
Germany would get its revenge – only 44 years later. In the round of 16 in South Africa, England plays its old rivals and trails 2-1 when Lampard unleashes a half-volley toward the crossbar. The ball falls a good few inches behind the goal line before bouncing immediately out, but neither referee Larrionda nor his assistant clearly saw the ball entirely enter the goal, and the English are left reeling. On the replay, the refs look bad, real bad… and the English lose by a wide margin, as 4-1 is the final score.
Goal on the beach
Darren Bent v. Mike Jones
Sunderland v. Liverpool
English Premier League, 2009
This is a mistake even a junior referee wouldn’t have made. A beach ball, which was supposed to add atmosphere to the crowd in the stands, ends on the pitch at the wrong time. Darren Bent shoots first time as a cross comes in from the right, and the ball collides with the aforementioned beach ball, which considerably deflects the soccer ball from its trajectory and confuses Pepe Reina in the Liverpudlian goal. 1-0 to Sunderland in the fifth minute. The score would stay untouched until the end.
Keep your head up
Patrick Battiston v. Charles Corver
France v. West Germany
Semifinal, 1982 World Cup
This is a moment of rare violence. About ten minutes after the start of the second half, as Patrick Battiston is expertly sent through by Michel Platini, Harald Schumacher, the German ‘keeper, sprints off his line to try and clear the ball. Logically, he will be a distant second to the object. As a matter of fact, Battiston tries to shoot with his left but fails to hit the target, though he gets hit with full force by Schumacher just inside the box. Penalty and red card, right? Nope. Referee Corver calls for a Germany goal kick, while the Saint-Étienne defender is unconscious on the ground with a damaged vertebrae and a couple of teeth missing. After 90 minutes, the score is 2-2; each team will score once in overtime to bring the game to a shootout. As you have probably already guessed, Schumacher is the hero, saving two penalties to send the Federal Republic of Germany to the finals.
