2010 FIFA World Cup: Referees Rob England and Mexico in Round of 16

The Round of 16 appears to be hugely controversial in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, of special concern are the Germany-England and Argentina-Mexico matches that both featured goal robberies by game refs on Sunday.

Surely, USA were also cheated in the group stage when they were disallowed two clean goals in two games, but despite their early complaints, improved precision and organization are yet to be seen for the FIFA referees.

As witnessed on Sunday, acceptance of goals seemed to be a true problem for officials, impacting the outcomes of games, and the hopes of losing sides.

Germany defeats England 4-1: Disallowed goal against Frank Lampard

England were robbed and humiliated by arch rival Germany in the 2010 World Cup, in response to their 5-1 friendly victory long ago.

Miroslav Klose first put the Germans in front at the 20 minute mark, before his Bayern Munich mate Lukas Podolski doubled the lead after great team work from the DFB Eleven in front.

England immediately got back into the match five minutes later when Matt Upson pulled a goal back, but just when fans got on their feet to celebrate what should have been a second goal—this time from Frank Lampard—the referee whistled to maintain the result in favor of Joachim Lowe’s men.

Looking at the replay, it was very clear that Lampard’s shot beat the German keeper. But the referee kept insisting that the ball had not crossed the goal line after bouncing off the cross bar.

This was the beginning of Sunday’s unforgettable controversy.

With no justice made in their favor, England went on to concede a third goal in the second half from Thomas Mueller, despite their attempt to survive.

A disappointing Rooney was incapable of pulling off the impossible upset of Germany, and hence, Mueller killed off the English defense again on 70 minutes to kick the Three Lions out of the 2010 World Cup with tears of shame.

Argentina defeats Mexico 3-1: An offside goal by Carlos Tevez

Diego Maradona’s boys from Argentina took the lead against Mexico on 26 minutes through Carlos Tevez, but also through one of the most controversial goals in the tournament.

Lionel Messi laid a through ball for Tevez to break the offside trap and scuff the ball past the keeper, but he found himself denied, and as the ball came back to an advancing Messi, the Barcelona forward weakly chipped the ball goalwards.

Unfortunately, the ball did not fly quick enough to cross the line, and the then-offside Tevez decided to head the ball home before the arrival of two unstoppable Mexican defenders with the intention of stealing the opener.

The assistant should have raised his flag for offside, but despite the relentless attacks from the Mexicans toward the officiating team, the goal stood, and hence, Argentina felt more likely to meet Germany in the quarter-finals.

Mexico also kept fouling the Albicelestes without earning any yellow card from the arbitrary, and this did not please the Argentines. It certainly seems that the referee wanted to correct his mistake which gifted Group B’s leaders the valuable opening goal.

Messi did not score in this match, and consequently, it was up to Higuain and Carlos Tevez to finish the job already began. Argentina won that game 3-1, with their third being arguably the most breathtaking goal of the tournament.

Germany and Argentina: Deserving Winners?

In the end, one can only wonder if Germany and Argentina were really deserved winners in the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Both Mexico and England have declared that they were not going to look upon controversy as an excuse to their defeats, although they would have obviously preferred to welcome fate under the perfect influence of justice.

Germany and Argentina will now face each other in the quarterfinals of the South African World Cup, but on this occasion, if ever the winning team enters the semifinals with the help of controversy again, peace might no longer empower the atmosphere within that side.

Go to LiveSoccerTV.com for live coverage, live commentary, and live matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.