To be fair, it’s not an easy job. Referees get most decisions right, 99% of the time, but all too often they screw up when they need to be at the top of their game. In an era of instant replays, Telestrator markings and high-voltage press conferences where managers grasp at every straw to explain defeats, refs are an easy target. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. The only comparable role in football is the goalkeeper; no one remembers what you got right, but they’ll never forget the one(s) that got past you. But on some occasions, refs get it so brutally wrong that they sink the whole game into a farce. Andre Marriner sending off the wrong player during Chelsea vs Arsenal, Raheem Sterling having a goal disallowed at the Etihad for no reason at all – these are examples from the club season gone by. The World Cup has thrown up its fair share already. Let's take a look.[Author’s note: For obvious reasons, this post is largely titled towards wrong penalties and offside calls: these have the maximum impact on a game. Of course, we will sink our teeth into other blunders as well...]
#1 Brazil Penalty vs Croatia
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Brazil and Croatia played the first match of the World Cup, an evenly-contested fixture that saw both sides having their spells of dominance. At 1-1 after 70 minutes, the match seemed to be headed for a draw, when Brazilian striker Fred, who had been quiet all night, tumbled in the box under pressure from Croat defender Dejan Lovren.
Fred claimed Lovren had fouled him, and Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura agreed. He pointed to the spot, and as a swarm of angry Croatian players ran towards him to complain, Fred gestured skywards in celebration. Neymar converted the penalty, and from there on Croatia were never getting back in the game.
Not the best of starts to a World Cup.
#2 Greece vs Ivory Coast: Samaras earns dubious penalty
The most epic shady penalty of them all.
Greece were heading for their 2nd successive draw, and trailed Ivory Coast by 2 points, meaning that they would exit the competition if they didn’t win.
Deep in injury time, they finally got a breather when Giorgios Samaras - former Celtic hard man and one of the most recognizable figures in European football – won a penalty. How? He kicked himself from behind with his own foot, tripped and fell, and looked at the ref, who pointed to the spot. The nearest Ivory Coast defender, Sio, was left gasping in shock. The penalty was converted, and the Greeks – termed Europe’s worst side before the competition – went through at the Africans’ expense
It was an egregious dive, but also comical: the ‘so bad that it’s good’ variety. Refs will believe anything these days, it seems.
#3 Mexico vs Cameroon: Dos Santos offside (1)
Giovanni dos Santos twice had the ball in the net against Cameroon, only to be flaggedoffside both times. Replays showed both calls were incorrect, but referee Wilmar Roldan (Colombia)upheld the linesmensdecisions.
This is the first....
#4 Mexico vs Cameroon: Dos Santos offside (2)
...and this is the second.
Mexico still won 1-0 against a disinterested Cameroon side, but had Cameroon sneaked in an equalizer, or perhaps even won 1-0, it could have flared into a major scandal. Linesman Humberto Clavijo (Colombia) was taken off duty after this match.
#5 Jermaine Jones is knocked silly - by the referee
The most awkward – and hilarious - of them all. Jermaine Jones of the USA was heading goalwards, when he barged into referee Ravshan Irmatov and fell down, clutching his head. Both were looking at the ball, so it was an accidental collision, but the German defenders – who had left Jones unmarked - weren’t complaining.
It was the only point of interest from the game, apart from the American players periodically mistaking Bastian Schweinsteiger for the football.
#6 Bosnia vs Nigeria: Emenike brings down Spahic
Perhaps the least clear-cut of the lotbut, given its significance, its worth taking another look.
Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike brought down Emir Spahic from behind before setting up Peter Odemwingie for the only goal of the match, sending Nigeria through at BIHs expense. It probably wouldnt have been given in the Premier League, but under FIFA rules should have been a spot-kick and it looks pretty clear thatEmenike clattered Spahic out of his way.
Nigeria were the better team on the nightbut, coupled with the last blunder, Bosnia-Herzegovina were effectively thrown out of the competition by dubious refereeing.
#7 Bosnia vs Nigeria - Dzeko ruled offside
This blunder (and the previous one) ruined a fairytale World Cup story, with Bosnia-Herzegovina crashing out after an unjust defeat.
Edin Dzeko converted a straightforward 1 vs 1 chance, but was flagged despite being onside.
The tiny ex-Yugoslav nation had impressed on World Cup debut against Argentina, and looked likely to sneak at least a draw against Nigeria, who were chasing their first World Cup win since 1998.
#8 Italy vs Uruguay: Luis Suarez allowed to stay on
Arguably the biggest blunder of them all. RefereeMarco Antonio Rodriguez isnt shy of flashing the red card, and in the 59thminute he sent off Italian midfielder Claudio Marchisio deservedly -for a studs-up challenge.
But in the 80thminute, Uruguay strikerLuis Suarez collided withItalian defenderGiorgio Chiellini, and both fell to the ground clutching different body parts. Chiellini jmped up and pulled his shirt down, claiming that Suarez had bitten him.
Of course, Rodriguezdidnt have the benefit of replays, and at first it did look likea collision, but Chiellinis lashing-out and subsequent frenetic appealsdeserved more serious investigation.
Instead, the referee did nothing. No cards were flashed, and the match was left in a 10 vs 11 state.The outraged Italians lost concentration, and less than a minute later, Uruguay skipper Diego Godin put them 1-0 up with a fine headed goal, knocking the 4-time champions out.
The correct decision as stated by former referees after the match was a red card forSuarez for biting, and a yellow toChiellini for retaliating.
#9 Spain penalty vs The Netherlands
Another Brazilian striker – but for a different country, and in an ultimately futile cause. Diego Costa is often described as ‘Drogba minus the diving’ for his physical style, comparable to the Ivory Coast legend’s, but uptil now without the taint of diving. In Spanish colours, he wasted no time completing the similarity.
In Spain’s opening match against the Netherlands, Costa seized a loose ball in the box and turned, preparing to run. As Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij slid in to tackle him, Costa turned away at the last second – and then stepped on De Vrij’s trailing leg and fell, arms outstretched.
At first sight it looked like a trip, and Italian referee Niccola Rizzoli was fooled. It was an extremely shrewd (or cynical) act by Costa. Xabi Alonso converted the penalty to make it 1-0, but the act sparked Holland to life. They fought back to equalize, and then routed Spain 5-1.
#10 Switzerland vs Ecuador
Like Mexico vs Cameroon, justice was delivered in the end - but only just.
Switzerland’s Josep Drmic scored in the 70th minute, and should have had at least one penalty within the next few minutes, as Ecuador committed two handballs in rapid succession. So how many goals did Switzerland actually get?
You guessed right, ZERO! The goal was (wrongly) ruled out for offside, and of the forty thousand people in the stands and on the field, only one didn’t spot the handballs. Guess who it was?
