Burst Baw: The most controversial refereeing decisions - part one

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 10:54

WHO'D be a referee? Seems you can't move for some kind of reffing controversy at the moment. This is nothing new, of course, so here's a look at some of the most controversial decisions in history...

• Les Mottram is surrounded by bemused United players

The setting: Scotland

The game: Partick Thistle vs Dundee United

The happening: Thistle fail to deal with a Dundee United corner and Paddy Connolly volleys home from close range. The ball smacks off the stanchion and back into play. A Thistle defender picks up the ball and hands it to his goalkeeper, who boots it upfield in disgust. But as United celebrate, referee Les Mottram waves play on...

Excuses, excuses: In an interview some years later, Mottram seemed to suggest his linesman had said no goal. Why no penalty, then?

What happened next? Mottram refereed two matches at the 1994 World Cup before moving to Japan where he became a highly-respected professional ref. His worst moment in football has been re-lived more than three million times on YouTube. That'll be three million and one if you click on the link below...

Watch the video (1m 16s in)

The setting: Germany

The game: FSV Frankfurt vs Duisburg

The happening: Duisburg's Christian Tiffert latches on to a loose clearance and chips the 'keeper from 20 yards. The ball hits the crossbar and rebounds back into play. Frankfurt clear the loose ball but - what's this? Referee Mark Fritz has awarded a goal.

Excuses, excuses: Fritz said his linesman told him the ball crossed the line (a pattern is emerging here).

What happened next? Frankfurt were already 4-0 down at the time so it wasn't a game-changer. The club did, however, launch a 'phantom goal' competition. Anyone who managed to successfully re-enact Tiffert's shot at the next home game got a prize.

Watch the video

The setting: The Netherlands

The game: Ajax vs PSV Eindhoven

The happening: Ajax are in the process of dishing out a serious thrasing to bitter Dutch rivals PSV Eindhoven. Referee Eric Braamhaar indulges in a private celebration of his own when Kenneth Perez slots home Ajax's fifth goal.

Excuses, excuses: I wasn't celebrating the goal, claimed referee Braamhaar, just the fact that it had come as a result of an advantage I called after a PSV foul. Aye right, Eric.

What happened next? Braamhaar remains on the elite list of Dutch referees and has officiated in this year's Champions League.

Watch the video

The setting: Mexico

The game: Argentina vs England

The happening: It's the quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup. Argentina are pressing the England defence when Steve Hodge launches a pitiful clearance high into the air. Peter Shilton and Diego Maradona both jump for the high ball. Maradona's fist gets there before Shilton's and the ball dribbles into the empty England net. 1-0 Argentina.

Excuses, excuses: Referee Ali Bin Nasser was later to claim that treatment for a haemorrhoid complaint had impared his eyesight. Brilliant.

What happened next? Maradona scores arguably the greatest goal in World Cup history to secure Argentina's place in the semi-final and prove that the old adage 'cheats never win' is a load of old mince.

Watch the video

The setting: England

The game: Crystal Palace vs Coventry City

The happening: Palace's Clive Allen rifles a blistering right-foot free kick into the top corner of the Coventry goal. The ball hits the stanchion and rebounds back into play. Referee says 'no goal'. Palace argue. He consults his linesman. Then says 'no goal'.

Excuses, excuses: Allen's shot was travelling at serious pace. It's conceivable that the ref thought the ball hit post or crossbar.

What happened next? Coventry go on to win the match 3-1. Palace endure a miserable run of form and are relegated to the Second Divison.

Watch the video

The setting: Argentina

The game: Brazil vs Sweden

The happening: Mighty Brazil are drawing 1-1 with lowly Sweden as their World Cup group match enters the final minute. Brazil have one last chance - a corner from the right, which Zico meets with an emphatic header. The ball fills the net and Brazil celebrate a dramatic winner. Not so fast - referee Clive Thomas says he blew for full-time while the cross was in the air and before Zico scored. The game ends in a draw.

Excuses, excuses: An unapolagetic Thomas stood by his decision - to the fury of millions of Brazilians.

What happened next: Thomas went on to cement his reputation as one of the game's most meticulous whistlers and laid out his stringent approach to refereeing in an autobiography in 1984.

Watch the video

The setting: Somewhere in Brazil

The game: Who knows?

The happening: A shot goes behind for a goal kick, whereupon a cheeky ball boy dribbles on to the pitch and taps the ball into the goal. After consultation with his linesman, the referee unbelievably awards a goal.

Excuses, excuses: Technically it could be argued... actually, there are no excuses for this one.

What happened next: Total and utter chaos.

Watch the video

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