Top 10 Worst Soccer Referee Decisions
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Frank Lampard's Goal That Never Was - England vs. Germany 2010
During England's 2010 World Cup round-of-16 match against Germany, Frank Lampard struck a shot that hit the bar, bounced clearly over the goal line, and came back out with England trailing 2-1. Referee Jorge Larrionda and assistant Mauricio Espinosa did not award the goal, so play continued and England lost 4-1. The mistake became one of the loudest arguments for goal-line technology, which IFAB approved two years later.
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Hand of God - Argentina vs. England 1986
Diego Maradona's first goal in Argentina's 1986 World Cup quarterfinal against England came when he used his hand to beat goalkeeper Peter Shilton to the ball. Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser and his assistant did not spot the infringement, and the goal was allowed despite England's protests. Argentina won 2-1, with Maradona scoring his famous solo goal just minutes later before going on to win the tournament.
I think that the referee is blind.
That referee is a big moron.
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Schumacher's Worst Foul Ever, Ref Awards Goal Kick - France vs. West Germany 1982
In the 1982 World Cup semifinal, West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher collided violently with France substitute Patrick Battiston after Battiston had chased a through ball into the penalty area. Battiston was left unconscious and seriously injured, but Dutch referee Charles Corver did not give a foul and instead awarded a goal kick. West Germany survived the incident, drew 3-3 after extra time, and advanced to the final by winning the penalty shootout.
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Graham Poll Books Šimunić 3 Times - Croatia vs. Australia 2006
English referee Graham Poll booked Croatia defender Josip Šimunić in the 61st minute of the 2006 World Cup match against Australia. Poll showed Šimunić a second yellow card in the 90th minute but failed to send him off, later explaining that he had recorded the booking incorrectly. Šimunić finally received a third yellow after the final whistle and was sent off, while the 2-2 draw sent Australia through.
This is too funny.
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Thierry Henry Handball - France vs. Republic of Ireland 2009
In the second leg of the 2009 World Cup qualifying playoff, Thierry Henry controlled the ball with his hand before crossing to William Gallas for France's decisive extra-time goal. The officials missed the handball, and France advanced to the 2010 World Cup with a 2-1 aggregate win over the Republic of Ireland. Ireland requested a replay, but FIFA rejected it, because apparently heartbreak does not come with a receipt.
Ireland has never been the same since. RIP in Pentatonics.
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Ballboy Scores Goal - Santacruzense vs. Atlético Sorocaba 2006
In a 2006 Copa Federação Paulista match, Atlético Sorocaba were leading Santacruzense 1-0 when a late Santacruzense shot went wide. A ball boy then put the ball into the net, and referee Silvia Regina de Oliveira awarded the goal after failing to see the full sequence. The decision stood as a 1-1 draw, while the referee faced suspension and the clip became one of football's strangest officiating disasters.
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De Jong Kick on Alonso Unpunished - Spain vs. Netherlands 2010
During the 2010 World Cup final, Nigel de Jong planted a high boot into Xabi Alonso's chest in one of the match's most infamous challenges. Referee Howard Webb showed only a yellow card, although he later acknowledged that the tackle should have produced a red card. Spain eventually won 1-0 after Andrés Iniesta's extra-time goal, but the non-red remains a giant orange stain on the final.
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Linesman Mistake Decides the Title - Leeds United vs. West Bromwich Albion 1971
In April 1971, Leeds United were chasing the First Division title when West Bromwich Albion scored a controversial winner at Elland Road. Referee Ray Tinkler allowed play to continue after the linesman had flagged for offside, and Jeff Astle finished the move as Leeds players stopped in protest. West Brom won 2-1, and Leeds were unable to catch Arsenal, who went on to win the league.
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Was It a Goal? - England vs. West Germany 1966
In extra time of the 1966 World Cup final, Geoff Hurst's shot hit the underside of the crossbar, bounced down near the line, and was cleared by West Germany. Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst consulted Soviet linesman Tofiq Bahramov, who indicated that the ball had crossed the line, so the goal was awarded. England went on to win 4-2, while debate over whether the whole ball crossed the line became part of World Cup folklore.
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Referee Scores Last Minute Winner - Ankaragücü vs. Beşiktaş 1986
In a 1986 Turkish league match between Ankaragücü and Beşiktaş, a shot by Ankaragücü's Kemal Yıldırım deflected off referee Ahmet Akçay and into the net. Under the laws used at the time, the referee was treated as part of the field of play, so the goal stood. Ankaragücü won 1-0, giving Beşiktaş the rare misery of conceding to a man who was not even on the team sheet.
I haven't seen this, but seriously!
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Spanish Goals Cancelled Due to Nonexistent Offsides - South Korea vs. Spain 2002
Spain's 2002 World Cup quarterfinal against co-hosts South Korea included two major disallowed goals. Rubén Baraja's header was ruled out for an alleged foul, and Fernando Morientes' extra-time header was disallowed after the assistant incorrectly signaled that Joaquín's cross had gone out of play. The match finished 0-0, and South Korea won the penalty shootout 5-3 to reach the semifinals.
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Unsportsmanlike Paraguayans Don't Get Booked - France vs. Paraguay 2026
France beat Paraguay 1-0 in their 2026 World Cup knockout match, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the decisive penalty. The match drew criticism for Paraguay's physical approach, with reports noting late challenges and off-ball contact while France received the only three yellow cards during play. Paraguay did not receive a card until after the final whistle, making the referee's disciplinary balance a major talking point after France advanced.
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Pedro Mendes's Would-Be Last Minute Winner Not Counted - Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United 2005
In January 2005, Tottenham midfielder Pedro Mendes struck a long-range shot at Old Trafford that Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll mishandled. The ball crossed the line before Carroll scooped it back out, but referee Mark Clattenburg and his assistant did not award a goal. The match finished 0-0, turning a probable Spurs winner into one of the Premier League's most famous ghost goals.
Pedro Mendes had a go from 40 yards in the last minute of the game when the score was 0-0, and Roy Carroll fumbled what was an easy catch over the line. It bounced a good metre over the line, but the linesman didn't see it.
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The Winning Penalty - West Germany vs. Argentina 1990
The 1990 World Cup final was decided when Mexican referee Edgardo Codesal awarded West Germany a late penalty for Roberto Sensini's challenge on Rudi Völler. Andreas Brehme converted the spot kick in the 85th minute to give West Germany a 1-0 lead. Argentina finished the match with nine men, and the penalty remains one of the most debated title-winning calls in World Cup history.
The only goal came in the 85th minute, when Mexican referee Codesal awarded a penalty to West Germany after Roberto Sensini fouled Rudi Völler, which led to Argentinian protests, as it was outside the penalty box. Andreas Brehme converted the spot kick with a low right-footed shot.
It is a shame for football that a World Cup was given to a team, even if this one was definitely better than the other, in this case Argentina. Argentina had a non-talented team and won only 2 of 7 matches, but Diego Maradona could lead the team as a great captain. This is very little remembered about him compared to his magic 1986 World Cup.
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Penalty on Totti Not Given and the Player Goes Out Supposedly for Diving - Italy vs. South Korea 2002
In extra time of Italy's 2002 World Cup round-of-16 match against South Korea, Francesco Totti went down in the penalty area under a challenge. Referee Byron Moreno judged it to be simulation, showed Totti a second yellow card, and sent him off instead of awarding Italy a penalty. South Korea later won 2-1 through Ahn Jung-hwan's golden goal, while Italy left furious about the refereeing.
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Winning Goal Denied Due to Whistle Being Blown a Second Earlier - Real Madrid vs. Valencia 2024
In March 2024, Real Madrid's match at Valencia ended in chaos when Jude Bellingham headed in what appeared to be a stoppage-time winner. Referee Jesús Gil Manzano had blown the final whistle while the cross was already in the air, so the goal was disallowed and the match stayed 2-2. Bellingham was then sent off for his protest and later received a two-match La Liga suspension.
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It's a F***ing Disgrace - Chelsea vs. Barcelona 2009
Chelsea's 2009 Champions League semifinal second leg against Barcelona became infamous for several rejected penalty appeals under referee Tom Henning Øvrebø. Andrés Iniesta scored in stoppage time to make it 1-1, sending Barcelona through on away goals. After the final whistle, Didier Drogba confronted the officials and shouted his now-famous line into a television camera, earning himself a UEFA ban.