World Football's 10 Most Egregious Referee Decisions This Year

One of the more humorous things to remember about "questionable" refereeing decisions is that one team finds them wonderful. The other, not so much.

It's a common refrain these days that the pace of the modern game has become so scintillating that referees often cannot hope to keep tabs on all the events moving on around them. Some fans are forever grateful for that fact, until the decisions turn against their favor.

But to claim speed as an alibi is no excuse for some of the decisions that have been made this season.

The recent spate of bad decisions in the English Premier League has led to apologies from Mike Riley, the chair of the refereeing committee.

While these likely aren't in the same register as the slew of horrendous performances from Tom Henning Ovrebo, the referee who will forever be remembered as missing Thierry Henry's blatant handball during the second leg of the France-Ireland playoff, and earning the ire of Chelsea's entire team during the second leg of the '09 Champions League semifinals (Didier Drogba called him "a f*****g disgrace") and blowing a Euro 2008 match between Romania and Italy and...well, you get the picture, it says something that Riley even had to come out with a statement.

Whether any changes will be made in the offseason concerning referees remains to be seen.

For now, we'll stick with what we've seen. Here are 10 of the most baffling referee decisions of the current season.

Chelsea Awarded Two Offsides Goals Against Wigan

Roberto Martinez had every reason to be furious after he saw his Wigan side denied a clear chance of victory in a match where Chelsea were granted two goals that were clearly offsides.

The normally even-keeled manager had this to say about the line judge who had cost his team dearly.

"The linesman had a disgusting performance…If you are good at your job, you don’t get these decisions wrong."

Wigan have since righted their ship with impressive wins over Manchester United and Arsenal in April, but they could feel hard done by that they couldn't add Chelsea to their list of takedowns.

Nicolas Spolli Denies AC Milan Victory Against Catania

AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri had every reason to seethe as he sipped his post-match espresso.

He'd just seen Robinho's game winner called back after the line judge incorrectly deemed the ball not to have passed over the goal line.

It wasn't the first time Allegri had seen his side denied a chance at victory because of the officiating.

Back in February, Milan had played to a 1-1 draw with Juventus at the San Siro. It was a match Allegri surely felt his side should have won—particularly after witnessing Sulley Muntari's own goal, in an unsettling foreshadowing of the controversy surrounding Robinho, called back after it had appeared to pass over the line.

AC Milan Awarded 21 Fouls Against Arsenal

Slovenian official Damir Skomina won't be expecting a Christmas card from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was left fuming after witnessing Skomina award 21 fouls to visitors AC Milan during the Gunners' 3-0 thrashing of the Lombards on March 6.

"I was not happy with the referee tonight because I felt he gave many free kicks in the middle of the park,” Wenger told reporters at the Emirates following the match.

"Every time [Milan] went down a free kick was given for them, and they sensed that very quickly and they used it very well."

Those comments may or may not have led to Wenger (OK, they probably did) receiving yet another UEFA touchline ban (three European matches this time around after his one-match ban to start the season) and a fine of £33,000, but the Frenchman was not the only one who was less than impressed with Skomina's performance.

Commentator Gary Neville, never one to withhold his feelings pertaining to a subject he finds personally interesting (see: reaction to Chelsea's goals against Barcelona), voiced his bemusement with the number of fouls granted to the visiting Milanese who did, it must be said, go down rather easily.

Real Madrid Miss out on Two Potential Penalties

Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona took on even greater importance after Real Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw against Valencia on April 8, a result that left them just four points clear of their Blaugrana chasers.

Aitor Karanka, second in command to manager Jose Mourinho, launched a scathing appraisal of referee Clos Gomez after witnessing two potential penalty opportunities on Cristiano Ronaldo waved away.

Central defender Raul Albiol joined Karanka in criticizing Gomez, claiming that the referee "didn't give his best performance."

Ashley Young Granted Two Penalties in Two Weeks

When a club legend comes out and chastises you for diving, you might have a problem.

While I doubt therapy classes to help treat going to ground to easily are in vogue just yet, at the rate the inglorious act is overtaking the game, it might just happen soon should football associations begin cracking down on it.

Manchester United winger Ashley Young was granted two penalties in two' weeks time, against Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa respectively, with what were deemed theatrical performances in the box.

That behavior has brought diving to the fore in English football, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lending his voice to the debate and saying that bans should be meted out for the worst offenders.

Mario Balotelli Escapes a Red Card Against Arsenal

He battered and nearly bloodied Arsenal's Alex Song and Bacary Sagna, yet it took Mario Balotelli nearly an entire match to get himself sent off.

His studs up challenge on the Cameroonian in the first half of City's trip to the Emirates on April 8 did not even result in a card.

Why Mancini left his man on the pitch past halftime is a matter for debate. Frankly, it didn't make much sense.

His eventual red card did.

Sunderland Granted Offside Goal Against Manchester City

Ji-Dong Won's winner for Sunderland on Jan. 1 may have cost Manchester City a very dear three points as they looked to snatch the Premier League title from their opponents across the city.

The Korean was clearly offside as he launched forward to seal the game for his side, yet the goal was allowed and City's hopes were dashed.

With the Citizens just three points behind Manchester United heading into this weekend's critical derby, they might feel that decision helped rule the course of their season.

Spurs Undone by Foy Against Stoke

Never one to hold back on his opinions, Tottenham manager launched a scathing appraisal of referee Chris Foy after seeing his side denied a penalty after the ball clearly struck a Stoke player's hand and have a goal called back.

Tottenham haven't been at their best of late, to be sure, but those kinds of decisions didn't much help matters.

Two Clear Handballs Go Uncalled as Real Madrid Scrapes by Real Betis

Casting a sour note on what was by all accounts a brilliant encounter redolent with attacking play, Real Betis felt that their visitors on the night—none other than giants Real Madrid—got away with two decisions that should have been called for hand ball.

The first shout came when Xabi Alonso appeared to stick his arm out to deflect a cross from Betis player Nacho. The second came when Montero shot, only for Sergio Ramos to batter the ball away—once again, apparently illegally with his arm.

That crucial win sent Madrid 13 points clear at the top of the La Liga standings, a lead they still maintain today, just weeks until the final game of the season.

Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti Slams Italian Referees Following Loss

Never one to hold back on making his opinion known—he rifles through managers like Kleenex—Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti launched a scathing attack of Serie A referees after seeing his side drop to 17th place following a 2-1 loss to Catania in Sicily that was rife with controversy after the hosts were bestowed a questionable penalty.

That was the third erroneous spot kick that Moratti (in his opinion) had seen granted against his team. (Inter had slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Napoli to start the month because of, you guessed it, another penalty decision.)