Top 10 Controversial Referee Calls in Sports History – Listverse

Sports embodies the world of passion, excitement and unpredictability. Athletes compete against each other on the field and leave no stone unturned in their quest for victory. But what happens when the decisions of the men and women in black and white stripes influence the outcome of a game?

Referee calls have been the subject of debate, frustration and sometimes outrage in sports. Let’s take a look at the top ten controversial referee calls in sports history.

Related: Top 10 Shocking Magazine Controversies

10 Hand goal 1986 World Cup

The 1986 World Cup left its mark on football history, mainly thanks to Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal. This call came during a match against England, forever etching Maradona’s name into the annals of football history.

With incredible cunning, Maradona used his hand to discreetly hit the ball into the net, but the referee never saw it. To add to England’s misery, Maradona followed up with the ‘Goal of the Century’, a testament to his extraordinary talent.

This fateful event remains a sore point for English football fans. It remains a hotly debated topic among football fans and underlines the lasting impact of Maradona’s deceptive and brilliant maneuver during the 1986 World Cup.

9 Roy Jones Jr. vs. Park Si-Hun (1988 Seoul Olympics)

In a sport where the outcome often depends on the judges’ scorecards, the 1988 Seoul Olympics witnessed an infamous fight between Roy Jones Jr. and Park Si-Hun. Jones, the rising star of American boxing, took on South Korea’s Si-Hun in the light middleweight gold medal bout.

The match seemed lopsided, with Jones showing clear dominance in each round. However, the jury’s verdict surprised everyone as Park Si-Hun was declared the winner. This decision sent shockwaves through the boxing community.

The controversy surrounding the fight was so blatant that even Park Si-Hun admitted he didn’t deserve the win. This call has gone down in history as one of the most questionable decisions in sports. It’s annoying how subjective scoring is in boxing.

8 Tuck Rule Game (2001 AFC Divisional Playoff)

The “Tuck Rule Game” of the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff is etched in NFL history for its baffling turn of events. In a snowy clash, the New England Patriots, led by Tom Brady, took on the Oakland Raiders.

In the game’s final moments, with the Patriots trailing, Brady appeared to fumble the ball after dropping back to pass. The Raiders seized on the apparent game-deciding recovery. The twist of the game, however, lay in a referee-initiated review invoking the ‘tuck rule’.

This ruling deemed Brady’s motion an incomplete pass, giving the Patriots the ball back. With a renewed opportunity, they successfully scored a field goal, securing the victory. This pivotal moment led to the infamous “tuck rule,” which is still the subject of debate and discussion among NFL fans and experts.

7 Thierry Henry Handball (2009)

In football (soccer in the US), where skill and honor often go hand in hand, the infamous 2009 Thierry Henry Handball incident is a striking example of how controversy can overshadow the game. The football world witnessed an unforgettable moment during a crucial World Cup qualifier between France and Ireland.

As the clock ticked into extra time, Thierry Henry, one of the sport’s legendary figures, brazenly handled the ball to set up William Gallas for a game-deciding goal. This underhanded play secured France’s ticket to the World Cup, while Ireland’s dreams were shattered.

What made this game even more remarkable was the fact that the entire world, except the referee, saw how confusing it was. Henry eventually admitted to using his hand, but claimed it was not his responsibility to inform the match official. This episode reignited the debate over the implementation of video technology in football, highlighting the need for fair play and ethical behavior in sport.

6 Seahawks Stun Packers (2012)

During the unforgettable 2012 NFL season opener, chaos reigned as replacement referees took the field. However, the most iconic moment occurred during the Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers.

The play culminated in a dramatic Hail Mary pass past the Seahawks in the final seconds. To everyone’s surprise, it turned out that Packers player MD Jennings had intercepted the ball. Nevertheless, one of the replacement officials called a touchdown for the Seahawks, causing serious tension among the fans.

What made this situation truly astonishing was the subsequent video review, which unequivocally identified the incorrect call. Still, the replacement referees upheld it. This controversy highlighted the need for experienced and competent officials in professional sports. It caused a wave of outrage throughout the NFL. The Seahawks’ stunning victory in this fiasco is forever etched in NFL history.

5 Yellow cards galore (2006 FIFA World Cup)

Graham Poll, an English referee, became a household name in the football world for a curious incident during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In a match between Croatia and Australia, he accidentally gave three yellow cards to Croatia’s Josip Šimunić before ultimately sending him off the pitch sent.

This baffling error led to accusations of incompetence, resulting in Poll being sent home from the World Cup. The call highlighted the enormous responsibility of referees in football and underlined how their mistakes can significantly affect match results.

Poll’s case is exactly why the sport needs referees to maintain a high level of concentration and accuracy. Their decisions can have a profound impact on the course of the game and the future of the teams involved.

4 Spain vs Morocco (2018 World Cup)

Ali Bin Nasser, a prominent figure in the sporting world, was in the spotlight during the 2018 World Cup match between Spain and Morocco. His big moment came in the dying minutes of the match, when he scored a highly controversial penalty in Spain’s favour. The decision led to accusations of bias against the Spanish team and sparked intense debate. Replays only added to the controversy because they showed how subjective the call really was.

This incident reminds us all of the enormous pressure and scrutiny that referees are constantly under, especially in high-stakes matches such as the World Cup. Their decisions can directly affect a team’s fate, and the line can be razor-thin.

3 Superbowl XL

Super Bowl XL featured a highly anticipated clash between the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers. What was meant to showcase the NFL’s excellence was marred by calls that frustrated fans.

The Seahawks claimed they were disadvantaged by several overlooked and erroneous calls in favor of the Steelers. The crucial point in the game was a controversial touchdown by Hines Ward of the Steelers. After the match, referee Bill Leavy acknowledged that he had certainly missed some crucial decisions, but the damage had already been done.

The questionable leadership left a sour taste in the mouths of many Seahawks fans, with some believing it ultimately cost them the Super Bowl. That probably wasn’t the best time for Leavy to play the nonchalance card about a game people pay tens of thousands of dollars for.

2 The Impeccable Reception (1972)

The Immaculate Reception is a legendary NFL play, forever linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their penchant for controversial calls. This unforgettable moment occurred during the 1972 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Steelers and the Oakland Raiders.

Franco Harris became an instant hero when he miraculously caught a pass that was deflected off something or someone – no one really knows. But the ongoing debate centers on whether the ball hit Steelers running back John Fuqua or Raiders Jack Tatum.

The catch would have been illegal if it had hit Fuqua, and the Raiders would have won. However, if the ball deflected off Tatum, it was a legitimate catch, giving the Steelers their win. This unsolved mystery makes The Immaculate Reception one of the most talked about and iconic plays in NFL playoff history.

1 No pass interference?

Now let’s dive into the ultimate breathtaking dripper. The Wild Card Round game in the 2002-03 NFL playoffs between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers had fans on the edge of their seats.

The Giants had held a commanding 38-14 lead late in the third quarter. Still, an incredible rally by the 49ers put them back in contention. The 49ers took a 39-38 lead with just one minute left, and it seemed all but over for the Giants.

In a last-ditch effort, Giants’ quarterback Kerry Collins led his team down the field and set up a potential game-winning field goal. But here’s the twist: the snap botched and the holder, Matt Allen, threw the ball downfield to offensive guard Rich Seubert, who was tackled.

To everyone else, it seemed like a textbook example of pass interference. It should have given the Giants a chance to score a game-winning field goal. However, the officials deemed Seubert an ineligible receiver. That call resulted in the incomplete pass being called the final play of the game. This decision remains one of the most baffling and most talked about decisions in the NFL, leaving Giants fans shaking their heads in disbelief.