Controversial officiating that started during South Africa’s match against Uruguay has spread around over the past few days. After the referees were complimented for fairly good work at the start of the tournament, the sentiment has turned definitively bitter. Several blunders have proved to be decisive, affecting not only team prospects and performances, but also transforming an experience of unique personal achievement into one of the most dreadful sporting performance.
When Swiss referee Massimo Busacca awarded a penalty to Uruguay while sending off South African goal-keeper Khune for a last man foul, along with diminishing South African hopes, he ended a player’s lifelong dream journey in a flash. All TV replays showed Uruguay’s forward Luis Suarez being marginally clipped by a diving Khune, but in no way was the foul malicious or even intentional. A penalty would have sufficed; even a yellow would have been harsh.
Nigeria could hardly complain about Sani Kaita’s red card that effectively led to the team’s elimination from the World Cup and to Kaita receiving hundreds of death threats, but South Korea may point out that at least one of Higuain’s goals for Argentina was off-side. The next day, Serbia’s win over Germany was greatly enabled by an absurdly over-zealous referee. Double disaster struck in a single minute for Germany, first with the unwarranted send-off of Germany forward Klose and culminating with Milan Jovanovic’s winner moments later. Even a man short for most of the match Germany dominated an unimpressive Serbia and missed several chances to tie or win the match. Without any question, Klose’s fouls did not amount to a red and his dismissal reignited Serbia’s place in the World Cup.
USA is still waiting to find out why the Malian referee disallowed a perfectly valid, winning goal against Slovenia, a goal that would have placed virtually assured the Americans of advancing. As is stands, USA must win its final encounter to be certain of passage. Less than 24 hours later, Australia’s talismanic midfielder Harry Kewell, making his first appearance at the World Cup, was shown a direct red for a very debatable infraction, a decision that seemed harsh even before the TV replays confirmed it. Australia bravely resisted the rest of the way and could have even won the match with Kewell around. Now Kewell will miss Australia’s crucial tie against Serbia and, on a personal level, his tournament experience has turned into a nightmare.
A World Cup to forget for Harry Kewell, here in happier times.
Today Luis Fabiano scored a goal that featured him handling the ball not once but twice. Both the referee and the linesman missed it. At the end of the match Kaka was eliminated for no reason. All TV replays revealed no infraction. So what is happening? Is it the pressure amidst massive stakes? The FIFA dictum to enforce the rules strictly? The weight of the moment? Human error? The vuvuzelas? In all probability it is a combination of all these factors, which historically has been a part of the game. Human error is understandable, but when blunders abound on such a big stage, the legitimacy of the tournament’s outcome declines. No one wants to remember a World Cup for controversial refereeing.