FIFA World Cup 2010: Controversial decisions that have gone in Spain’s favor
Every World Cup has always been brim full of terrible decisions that simply shatter the integrity of the game. From disallowed goals to terrible refereeing decisions, the potential of bad decisions are limitless. The 2010 World Cup has not been an exception to this rule. And the team with the most controversial decisions going in its favor is none other than tournament favorites, Spain.
Ever since their one nil loss to Switzerland in their opening game, the referees have seemed to become extremely charitable to the Spanish. The first of these decisions was in the match against Honduras. On the forty second minute mark David Villa punched Honduran defender, Emilo Izaguirre right in front of the Honduras goal. The head referee completely missed this incident somehow all he did was talk to Villa about it and not even go for the yellow card that was definitely required on the occasion.
In Spain’s final group match against Chile, Spain were one nil up and on the counter attack, Torres was running towards the goal and appeared to be tripped from behind by Chilean defender Marco Estrada. The referee allowed play to go on which resulted in a second goal for Spain, however he then went on to show Estrada a second yellow and gave him the marching orders. The replay clearly showed that Torres made the most of the situation and there was barely any contact, even though the referee was in clear view of the incident he still gave it in favor of the Spanish.
In the sixty third minute of the match between Portugal and Spain a brilliant series of passes saw David Villa left alone in front of the Portuguese keeper Eduardo. Villa was able to score the decisive goal that saw Spain beat Portugal one goal to nil. When looking at the replays, Villa appeared to be offside before the goal was scored, but as luck would have it, this wasn’t spotted by the linesman.
In the dying minutes of the same game, Joan Capdevila and Ricardo Costa went up for a cross just outside the Spanish penalty area. Capdevila simulated and pretended to get hit in the face by Costa. The referee Hector Baldassi decided to show Costa a straight red for the incident even though everyone knew Capdevila was clearly acting. Being one man down in the final minutes saw any threat that Portugal could have produced fade away.
In the quarter final match between Paraguay and Spain, Paraguayan forward Nelson Valdez scored a wonderful goal, which was ruled to be offside. However looking at the replay it was clearly visible that Valdez was onside. The referee’s assistant didn’t even hesitate while making the call. This decision was the decisive factor in the game which, Spain went on to win one nil in the end.
All these events have resulted in Spain coming up on top in all of the matches that they have played so far, had these decisions not gone in their favor it is safe to say that there might have been someone else facing Netherlands in the final game of the tournament.
Tags: