Explore the most controversial referee decisions in World Cup history. From disallowed goals to infamous penalties, these moments changed football forever.

The Most Controversial Referee Decisions in World Cup History

The FIFA World Cup is the biggest stage in football, where the world’s best players and teams compete for ultimate glory. However, amidst the drama and excitement, the tournament has also been plagued by controversial referee decisions that have left players, coaches, and fans in disbelief.

Some of these decisions have altered the course of matches, determined the fate of nations, and sparked debates that continue to this day. From ghost goals to dubious penalties, let’s take a look at some of the most controversial referee decisions in World Cup history.

1. The “Hand of God” – 1986 World Cup

One of the most infamous moments in football history occurred in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England. In the 51st minute, Diego Maradona jumped to contest a high ball against England’s goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Instead of heading the ball, Maradona punched it into the net.

The referee, Ali Bin Nasser, failed to spot the handball, and despite protests from England’s players, the goal stood. Maradona later described the incident as “The Hand of God”, a phrase that would become legendary. To make matters worse for England, just minutes later, Maradona scored the “Goal of the Century”, dribbling past five defenders to seal Argentina’s victory.

📌 Impact: Argentina went on to win the tournament, and this moment remains one of the most debated refereeing errors in history.

2. Geoff Hurst’s “Ghost Goal” – 1966 World Cup Final

The 1966 World Cup final between England and West Germany saw one of the most debated goals in football history. In extra time, Geoff Hurst struck a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down before being cleared.

The referee, Gottfried Dienst, consulted with his linesman, Tofiq Bahramov, who controversially ruled that the ball had crossed the line. Replays have since suggested that the decision was incorrect, but the goal stood, giving England a crucial lead in their 4-2 victory.

📌 Impact: England won their first (and only) World Cup title, but the goal remains a source of controversy, especially among German fans.

3. Frank Lampard’s Disallowed Goal – 2010 World Cup

In a shocking repeat of 1966, England was once again at the center of a goal-line controversy, this time against Germany in the 2010 World Cup Round of 16.

At 2-1 down, Frank Lampard unleashed a powerful shot that hit the crossbar and clearly bounced inside the goal before coming out. However, the referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistants failed to award the goal, despite replays showing it had clearly crossed the line.

📌 Impact: Germany went on to win 4-1, and this incident was one of the key reasons FIFA introduced goal-line technology in future tournaments.

4. South Korea’s Controversial Wins – 2002 World Cup

The 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, saw South Korea make a shocking run to the semi-finals. However, their victories over Italy and Spain were surrounded by refereeing controversies.

🔸 Against Italy (Round of 16) – The referee, Byron Moreno, made several questionable calls, including disallowing a legitimate goal for Italy and sending off Francesco Totti for an alleged dive. South Korea won with a golden goal in extra time.

🔸 Against Spain (Quarter-finals) – Spain had two goals controversially ruled out by referee Gamal Al-Ghandour for questionable reasons, allowing South Korea to advance on penalties.

📌 Impact: These matches remain one of the biggest World Cup controversies, with many believing South Korea was unfairly helped by the referees.

5. Rivaldo’s Theatrical Dive – 2002 World Cup

During a group stage match between Brazil and Turkey, a bizarre moment saw Brazil’s Rivaldo earn a red card for an opponent through simulation.

As Rivaldo prepared to take a corner kick, Turkey’s Hakan Ünsal kicked the ball toward him, hitting his thigh. However, Rivaldo clutched his face and fell dramatically, convincing the referee to send Ünsal off.

📌 Impact: Brazil went on to win the 2002 World Cup, but Rivaldo’s dive is still considered one of the worst examples of cheating in World Cup history.

6. Thierry Henry’s Handball – 2009 World Cup Qualifiers

Although this did not happen during the World Cup itself, Thierry Henry’s handball during the 2009 World Cup qualifiers between France and Ireland is one of the biggest referee errors in history.

In extra time of the second leg, Henry controlled the ball with his hand twice before assisting William Gallas for the winning goal. The referee did not see the incident, and France qualified for the 2010 World Cup, leaving Ireland devastated.

📌 Impact: This controversial moment fueled discussions about introducing VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in football.

7. Argentina’s Controversial Penalty – 2022 World Cup Final

The 2022 World Cup Final between Argentina and France was one of the greatest football matches ever played. However, Argentina’s opening goal came from a highly debated penalty awarded for a soft foul on Ángel Di María.

Some experts and fans argued that the contact was minimal, and the penalty should not have been given. The decision was made even more controversial when France was awarded a penalty later in the game for a similar incident.

📌 Impact: Argentina won on penalties, with Lionel Messi securing his long-awaited World Cup trophy, but the referee’s calls were widely discussed.

Conclusion

Referees play a crucial role in football, and their decisions can change the outcome of matches and entire tournaments. While technology like VAR and goal-line technology has helped reduce errors, controversial moments still occur in World Cups.

💬 Which controversial decision do you think was the worst in World Cup history? Let us know in the comments!

⚽ Keep supporting MBS66, and let’s hope for fair refereeing in future tournaments!

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