In the aftermath of Newcastle United’s penalty drama against Burton Albion, we present seven unbelievable refereeing decisions that football has encountered.
Three yellows and you’re off
Whilst officiating a crucial game between Australia and Croatia in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup, English referee Graham Poll infamously booked Croatia’s Josep Simunic three times – before finally sending the defender from the field of play.
The mistake ultimately cost Poll his dream of refereeing a World Cup final, as the Hertfordshire-born official was sent home from the tournament soon after the Simunic eror.
Referee Graham Poll
The Hand of God
Diego Maradona was a renowned maverick throughout his eventful career – including being one of the best players ever to grace the game; but also one of the most controversial. The Argentina superstar’s most microcosmic of games may well have been the 1986 World Cup quarter final against England.
Although Maradona scored a truly world class second goal, the game will always be synonymous with the awful decision that allowed the ‘Hand of God’ to stand – with Argentina’s number 10 clearly punching the ball into the net for the game’s opening goal.
England players protest to the referee after Diego Maradona scored with his hand
The beachball incident
No Sunderland and Liverpool encounter can be discussed without mention of the now infamous beachball goal, ‘scored’ by the Black Cats’ Darren Bent in October 2009.
Sunderland striker Bent’s attempt at goal looked to be heading straight into Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina’s grasp, until the freakishly anomalous deflection off a beachball – thrown to the field of play by a Liverpool fan.
The goal has gone down in Premier League history – but should not have been allowed to stand by referee Mike Jones, as the ball had struck an ‘outside agent’ and should have been chalked off the scoreboard.
Darren Bent scores beach ball goal for Sunderland against Liverpool
Mistaken identity
When Chelsea hosted Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in 2014, referee Andre Mariner correctly awarded a penalty to the home side for an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hand ball on the goal line. However, in a monumental mistake, Mariner showed a red card to Oxlade-Chamberlain’s team mate, Kieran Gibbs instead. Certainly an embarrassing case of mistaken identity.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs
The ghost goal
Aside from Luis Garcia’s so-called ‘ghost-goal’ in Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League clash with Chelsea, there has been an even more remarkable incident far more worthy of the title.
When Watford and Reading met in a 2008 Championship fixture, referee Stuart Attwell made the most bizarre decision to award a goal to the Royals – despite the ball having already crossed the dead-ball line and then hitting the side netting.
Admittedly, to Attwell’s defence, it was linesman Nigel Bannister who flagged to award the goal – but a crazy decision nonetheless.
Referee Stuart Attwell
The goal that wasn’t given
In a match between Crystal Palace and Bristol City, Eagles forward Freddie Sears found the back of the net with a perfectly good strike. However, during Sears’ celebrations, referee Rob Shoebridge failed to award the goal.
The reality was that, after crossing the line, the ball had hit the stanchion at back of the goal and popped back out into play. Dismayed Palace boss Neil Warnock, as reported by the Guardian, even suggested that Bristol City players could have ‘shown more sportsmanship because they knew it was a goal, like everyone else’.
Referee Keith Stroud rules out Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United’s penalty
Newcastle’s penalty nightmare
In the recent Championship clash between Newcastle and Burton, referee Keith Stroud awarded the Magpies a penalty for a foul on Dwight Gayle, which was subsequently converted by Matt Ritchie.
However, amid jubilant Newcastle celebration, Stroud disallowed the goal due to player encroachment – and to everyone’s surprise, awarded an indirect free kick to Burton, rather than ordering a spot-kick retake.
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