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Referees are tasked with calling the shots in terms of officiating and upholding the football rule book. They also have the daunting task of maintaining order when things get heated between players. The power vested in referees enable them to make game-changing decisions such as giving penalties and issuing of red cards.
It is expected that referees will always make the right calls despite being only human. It is this fact that informed FIFA's decision to introduce video technology that would assist referees in key match moments.
In the course of football history, some referees have made contentious decisions that left fans in disbelief. These five instances proved to be the wrong call made by the centre referees.
#6 Cuadrado red card against Real Madrid (2017)
Colombian Juan Cuadrado was a victim of poor officiating on June 3, 2017, when Juventus faced Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final. He had come on as a 66th-minute substitute as Juventus trailed 3-1 in the match. Within six minutes of entering the field, Cuadrado was booked.
In the 83rd minute, Cuadrado was locked in a tussle with Sergio Ramos on the right wing. The Colombian was eager to get the game going as he contested the ball. The referee could only have sent him off for what appeared to be a faint stomp on Ramos or the kind of contact associated with a player eager to avoid time-wasting by their opponents.
Ramos, traditionally known to be the offender theatrically threw himself to the ground in what was a clever tactic. German referee Felix Brych sent Cuadrado off in what was a nightmare 18 minutes for the winger.
#5 Chelsea vs Barcelona (2009)
In 2009, referee Tom Ovrebo was on the spot for the way he handled Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge. Andres Iniesta's spectacular strike in stoppage time enabled the Catalan giants to progress on the away goals rule.
In the second half of the match. Chelsea had several claims for a penalty turned down. First, Didier Drogba was brought down by Eric Abidal in the box but Ovrebo waved for play to continue. With 10 minutes of the match left to play, Gerard Pique was under intense pressure from Nicolas Anelka when he blatantly handled the ball in the box. Again Ovrebo was unshaken during this incident.
In the dying minutes of the match, German Michael Ballack struck a shot that hit Samuel Eto'o's arm in the penalty area but the referee was not moved. His officiating was also called into question when he sent off Eric Abidal in the 65th minute after what was a typical coming together of legs with Anelka. Replays showed that Anelka also fell after his own legs got tangled as he ran.
There were bitter scenes at the end of the match with Drogba, in particular, confronting Ovrebo. Chelsea was robbed of goal-scoring opportunities on several occasions in a classic example of officiating that raised a lot of questions.
#4 Penalty to South Africa vs Senegal (2016)
Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey was at the centre of controversy when South Africa faced Senegal in a 2018 World Cup qualifier. This November 2016 tie saw Lamptey award a dubious penalty to South Africa after he adjudged centre back Kalidou Koulibaly of handling the ball in the box.
Video replays showed clearly that the ball hit Koulibaly on his thigh with Lamptey pointing to the spot. Thulani Hlatshwayo converted the penalty as South Africa won 2-1. This decision was so controversial that FIFA banned Lamptey for life after a review was done and found him guilty of match-fixing. Additionally, FIFA ordered a replay of the match that was played on November 2017.
#3 De Jong kick on Alonso (2010)
English referee Howard Webb was in the spotlight in the 2010 World Cup for one key decision made during the final. In July 2010, Spain and Netherlands squared off in a highly explosive match. In football, there are usually some fouls committed that are debatable and result in leniency from the referee.
However, hard tackling Nigel De Jong deserved a straight red card for his wild kick on Xabi Alonso just before the half-hour mark. The ball was up in the air when both players contested it. Alonso reached for it with his head while De Jong sunk his full studs into the Spaniard's chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
It is unclear why Webb chose to brandish only a booking for the Dutch midfielder. The fact that it was a World Cup final should not have influenced Webb's decision. Regardless of the magnitude of the match, De Jong deserved a straight red card and there would be little complaints about it.
#2 Rivaldo theatrics vs Turkey (2002)
Brazilian players are known for neat play and scintillating football. However, star forward Rivaldo, on June 3rd 2002, proved that he could easily fit into an acting class. Brazil faced Turkey in their opening Group C match of the World Cup.
Turkey's Hakan Unsal was sent off for kicking the ball at Rivaldo who was standing near the corner flag. The ball clearly hit Rivaldo's leg but he threw himself to the ground with his hands in his face to heighten the situation.
Referee Kim Young-Joo gave Unsal his matching orders whereas no repercussion befell Rivaldo during the incident for deliberately deceiving the match official. He was however fined by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee after the match that Brazil won 2-1.
#1 Gibbs' sending off (2014)
In March 2014, Arsenal suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League. Referee Andre Marriner made an error in the 17th minute of the match when he wrongfully sent off Kieran Gibbs for handling the ball.
It was teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who had, in fact, dived to tip away Eden Hazard's shot with his hand. Despite Chamberlain admitting that it was him who had committed the offence, Marriner stood firm.
Maybe it was the colour resemblance between Chamberlain and Gibbs on top of the split-second decision that caused the confusion. Marriner later apologised for the mistake.
