The English Premier League has been one of the focal points of the soccer world since its inception, with every match filled with passion and controversy. Among them, refereeing decisions have always been one of the focuses of debate among fans and media. Below, let's reveal the top 10 controversial penalties in the history of the Premier League and explore the stories behind these refereeing decisions.
In the 2013 Manchester derby, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was slightly touched by Manchester City's Manuel Navas as the latter battled with him for the top spot, but de Gea fell to the ground and managed to get a penalty kick. The call sparked widespread controversy, with some arguing that De Gea faked the penalty, while others felt it was justified.
The referee awarded a penalty after Tottenham Hotspur's player, Derry Alli, went down suspiciously after being touched by an opposing defender against Liverpool in a 2018 match. However, video replays showed Alli exaggeratedly falling to the ground after receiving a slight touch, a call that sparked widespread criticism from fans and the media.
In 2019, Manchester United's player David de Gea pounced on an opponent's penalty against Norwich City, but the referee ruled that he had left the goal line early in his save and called for the penalty to be re-enforced. The call sparked a fierce controversy, with many arguing that De Gea's save was valid.
In some matches, the referee's decision on the positioning of handball is often controversial. Sometimes the referee penalizes a player's handball in a position far away from the ball as a foul, while sometimes the referee does not penalize a player's handball in the penalty area. This inconsistency has often been a topic of discussion among fans.
Red card decisions are also one of the common controversies in Premier League matches. Sometimes the referee awards a clear red card, but there are also occasions when the referee gives a yellow card or no penalty for foul play, sparking questions and criticism from fans.
In some matches, referees have awarded penalties seemingly too often, even sometimes just for minor contact, a situation that has prompted fans to question the subjective judgment of referees.
Offside penalties are one of the common disputes in soccer. Sometimes the offside call is very obvious, but there are also occasions when the referee's decision on offside is controversial, which may affect the outcome of the match.
With the introduction of VAR technology, referees' calls have come under more scrutiny and controversy. Sometimes the intervention of VAR can correct a referee's wrong call, but sometimes the results of VAR's calls can lead to new controversies.
The location of free throws is also often a point of contention in some games. Sometimes there is subjectivity in the referee's decision on the location of the free throw, which may affect the outcome of the game.
Penalties in the overtime period are also often controversial in some key matches. Sometimes the referee's decisions in extra time can affect the outcome of the match, which has led to fans questioning the impartiality of the referee. There have been many controversial penalties in the history of the English Premier League, which not only affected the results of the matches, but also prompted people to reflect on and discuss the fairness and professionalism of soccer referees.
