FIFA 2010 World Cup Soccer in South Africa: A tournament of controversies
Every football world cup ends with newer surprises, controversies, issues and some totally incurable decisions. The football world cup is always expected to be the best tournament ever as it is played and loved by billions around the world. So considering this fact, the expectations from South Africa 2010 were sky high. The football world cup was supposed to be the biggest sporting event in the world but people are considering it as one of the worst world cups ever recorded in the history of football.
South Africa 2010 started with a number of controversial umpiring decisions. Some of these decisions were made so abruptly that they apparently tormented and shattered the hopes of the victimized teams and nations to compete any further in the cup. It is understood that decisions regarding disallowed goals and off side fouls happen quite regularly. However, the world cup in South Arica proved to be much worse and is expected to lead the list of controversial decisions in a single world cup.
The most likely victims of these brim full decisions are the teams of England and Mexico. Everybody is criticizing and pointing FIFA for Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against the Germans. It was a clear goal as the ball had crossed the goal line quite clearly but the line referee totally ignored it and failed to award the goal to the English team. This decision resulted in England’s defeat as the ‘three lions’ got frustrated and lost the rhythm of understanding between the attacking and defending positions and resulted in the loss of 4-1. Mexico had to go through the same ordeal. The referee awarded a goal to Argentina which was scored in an off-side position. The result shattered the hopes for Mexico of staying in South Africa 2010.
The only team which got lucky due to these wrong decisions was the Spanish team. It seemed that this world cup is a lucky world cup for the Spanish men as every wrong decision taken by the referees went in their favor.
Incidents like David Villa’s punching Honduras defender are unforgettable. Another incident of an offside goal by David Villa of Spain in the 63rd minute of the match against Portugal is a proof of their good luck in South Africa 2010. Video replays then showed that Villa was in an offside position. In the same match against Portugal, Spain’s Joan Capdevila faked an elbow to his face from the Portugal’s Ricardo Costa. What made that game more disgraceful was when the referee awarded Costa a straight red card.
Considering these huge blunders, FIFA has taken strong notice. This is why they are trying to settle the brawl by saying that these errors will not happen again. If it happens again, it will be a strong blow to the biggest federation because it will affect not only the momentum and motivation of the players but will also lead a question mark over FIFA’s character. FIFA is going to reopen the files on goal-line technology. FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter said that they are doing their best to make this game pure of controversies and will introduce a new model to improve refereeing standards in the future world cups.
Well the disappointed crowd of millions will keep their fingers crossed as they are not happy and were not expecting the event to be like that.
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