
Top 10 Most Controversial Refereeing Decisions
From Sport Is History by SpiritLand Creative
May 15, 2026 · 23 min
About this episode
Mark and Marcus discuss the most controversial refereeing decisions in football history.
Being a referee isn't exactly easy...but it becomes a whole lot harder when you get it wrong! In this bonus episode, Mark and Marcus look back on some of the most outrageous refereeing decisions in football, both club and country. From incorrect offside calls to overzealous bookings, the pair break down some of the worst and most interesting choices made by referees. Stories include the 2009 Chelsea v Barcelona Champions League semi-final, Pedro Mendes' halfway line strike from 2005 against Manchester United and referee Wolf-Dieter Ahlenfelder's alcoholic indulgence before a game alongside many more. Every week, Mark Pougatch and Marcus Buckland unpack unbelievable stories from the world of sporting history. Tik Tok Instagram YouTube Produced by Spiritland Creative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
People in this episode
Hosts: Mark Pougatch, Marcus Buckland
Topics covered
- refereeing decisions
- football controversies
- sports history
- outrageous calls
- club football
- international football
Keywords
- referee
- controversial decisions
- football
- Chelsea
- Barcelona
- Manchester United
- Pedro Mendes
- Wolf-Dieter Ahlenfelder
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Spiritland Creative
More episodes of Sport Is History
- The World Cup's Biggest SHOCKS! · June 11, 2026 · 42 min
- Who Makes The World Cup's Greatest Ever Team? · June 5, 2026 · 33 min
- Pubs to Prime Time: The Phenonmenal Rise of Darts · June 4, 2026 · 39 min
- Champions League Final Fever: PSG vs Arsenal · May 29, 2026 · 32 min
- How Yannick Noah Changed French Tennis · May 28, 2026 · 44 min
- Cheaters: Sports Biggest Scandals! · May 22, 2026 · 36 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Sport Is History podcast page.