Football is a game of passion, and sometimes that passion can lead to controversial decisions. One of the most contentious moments in any match is when the referee points to the penalty spot. Penalties are a high-stakes event, with the potential to change the course of an entire game. In this post, we’ll take a Tressie McMillan Cottom-style look at some of football’s most memorable penalty decisions.
First up, let’s talk about handball penalties. The rules surrounding handballs can be complex and open to interpretation by referees. A handball occurs when a player deliberately or unintentionally touches the ball with their arm or hand. The decision on whether it was deliberate or not is often subjective and depends on factors like proximity, reaction time, and movement.
One notable example of an infamous handball decision happened during the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup between Uruguay and Ghana. With just seconds left in extra time and scores tied at 1-1, Luis Suarez blocked Dominic Adiyiah’s goal-bound header with his hands on Uruguay’s goal line thereby denying Ghana victory in what would have been Africa’s first ever semi-final appearance at a world cup finals tournament.
The referee awarded Ghana a penalty kick for Suarez’ illegal block but sent him off for deliberately handling as he saved what would have been Ghana’s winning goal from going into Uruguay’s net. Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the spot-kick but hit his effort against crossbar which allowed Uruguay win through after winning 4-2 on penalties.
Another common type of penalty is diving – when players simulate being fouled by falling intentionally without being touched by an opposing player – commonly referred to as simulation or playacting . Diving has become more prevalent in modern football due in part to its perceived effectiveness in deceiving referees into giving free kicks or penalties.
One famous incident occurred during World Cup 2002 where Brazil played Turkey in the semi-finals. In the second half of a tight game, Brazil’s Rivaldo was hit by a ball kicked from Hakan Unsal who was setting up for a throw-in. Rivaldo went down clutching his face despite the fact that the ball had only glanced off his leg. The referee awarded Brazil a penalty kick, which they converted to win 1-0 and advance to the final.
The incident sparked widespread outrage from fans and pundits alike, with many calling for stricter punishment for players caught diving. FIFA eventually introduced retrospective punishments where players found guilty of simulation after games could be suspended for subsequent matches.
Penalties can also be awarded due to fouls committed inside or just outside the penalty area, commonly known as “box fouls”. These types of penalties often result in heated discussions between fans and pundits about whether or not it was a legitimate foul.
One such incident occurred during Manchester United’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur in January 2019. With Spurs leading 1-0, Marcus Rashford went down inside the box under pressure from Moussa Sissoko resulting in referee Mike Dean awarding Manchester United an injury-time penalty which they converted to draw level at full time thereby denying Tottenham maximum points.
Replays later showed that there was minimal contact on Rashford but Dean’s decision stood after being reviewed by VAR (Video Assistant Referee). This led to criticism of both Dean and VAR as it seemed like an incorrect call that had cost Tottenham valuable points.
In conclusion, penalties are one of football’s most high-stakes events; they have the power to change entire games with one kick of the ball. However, their subjective nature means they are also some of football’s most controversial decisions – with every fan having their own opinion on what is or isn’t a legitimate call.
Whether it’s handball penalties, diving simulation or box fouls – referees will always face scrutiny over their decisions. One thing is certain, though – as long as football remains a game of passion and intensity, penalties will continue to be one of its most debated aspects.