A disallowed goal in football is one of the most controversial and regrettable situations on the pitch. Whether it comes from an offside error, the ball going out of the field or a referee’s mistake, disallowed goals always leave many mixed emotions. Many matches have changed the situation because of a disallowed goal, even affecting the outcome of an entire tournament. Although goal-line technology and VAR have helped improve the accuracy of refereeing decisions, disallowed goal in soccer is still a hot topic, attracting the attention of players, coaches and fans around the world. Join Bestsoccertips to learn about disallowed goals in football through the article below!
Top 9 disallowed goal in soccer
Top 9: Don Hutchinson v Liverpool (2000)
Disallowed goals are always a controversial topic in football, and the Merseyside derby in April 2000 saw a memorable incident. With the game level at 0-0 in the dying seconds, Everton looked set to score the winner. Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld’s free-kick accidentally hit Don Hutchinson’s back and flew into the empty net. Everton’s players erupted in joy, believing they had won the game. However, referee Graham Poll surprisingly disallowed the goal, claiming he had blown the final whistle just before the ball crossed the line.
The decision infuriated Everton, who believed the goal had been valid. The controversy continued even after the match, with Poll facing criticism from pundits and fans alike. Years later, in his autobiography, Poll himself admitted that he was wrong to disallow the goal. The incident became one of the most controversial moments in Merseyside derby history, highlighting the importance of refereeing decisions in football.
Top 8: Frank Lampard vs Germany (2010)
Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal at the 2010 World Cup is one of the most infamous errors in the history of the competition. With England trailing 2-1 to Germany in the round of 16, Lampard unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box. The ball hit the crossbar, bounced clearly inside the line and bounced out, but referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistants disallowed the goal. Had it counted, it could have levelled the game and changed the outcome of the match.
Instead, England lost their nerve and conceded two more goals, ending the match 4-1. This serious mistake not only sparked a wave of protests from England fans but also prompted FIFA to accelerate the application of goal-line technology in football. FIFA President Sepp Blatter later had to publicly apologize, admit the mistake and pledge to improve refereeing. However, that apology could not change the fact that England were eliminated in one of the most controversial matches in World Cup history.
Top 7: Peter Schmeichel vs Wimbledon (1997)
Goalkeeper goals are always a rare and emotional moment in football, but unfortunately, Peter Schmeichel was deprived of one of the most spectacular goals in history. In the 1997 FA Cup fourth round replay between Manchester United and Wimbledon, the Red Devils were trailing 0-1 with only 60 seconds left. With nothing to lose, Schmeichel rushed forward to take a corner kick, hoping to create a miracle.
Gary Pallister headed the ball into the area, and Schmeichel performed a spectacular bicycle kick into the net. The stadium erupted for a moment, but the joy was quickly extinguished when the linesman raised his flag for offside. Schmeichel later admitted that the decision was correct, although he regretted that if the goal had stood, it would have been the greatest goal ever scored by a goalkeeper.
Top 6: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Spain (2010)
There are many ways for a great goal to be denied, but having your own team-mate accidentally cancel it out is probably the most frustrating. In a friendly between Portugal and Spain in 2010, Cristiano Ronaldo produced a moment of genius when he dribbled past a number of defenders before delicately chipping the ball over Iker Casillas. It could have been a masterpiece, but then something unexpected happened.
As the ball was about to hit the back of the net, Nani suddenly appeared from behind and headed the ball over the line. However, he was in an offside position, prompting the linesman to raise his flag. Ronaldo, who was ready to celebrate, threw his arms up in frustration and turned away. CR7’s expression of utter disappointment after this situation became a memorable moment, proving that sometimes teammates are the biggest obstacle to a great goal.
Top 5: Thiago Silva vs Nice (2013)
Thiago Silva once had a moment when he thought he had scored for PSG, but unfortunately, the goal was disallowed. In a match against Nice, the opposing goalkeeper made a serious mistake, allowing the Brazilian centre-back to put the ball into an empty net. However, there was a big problem: the ball had completely crossed the line before Silva touched it, causing the goal to be disallowed.
Although Silva protested strongly, trying to convince the referee to allow the goal, the decision could not be overturned. As a centre-back, he did not score often—he only scored nine goals during his time at PSG—so missing this opportunity was all the more regretful. However, the rules of football are clear: a goal is only valid if the player touches the ball before it goes out of bounds, and in this case, Silva could only accept the harsh reality.
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Top 4: Mario Balotelli vs Cagliari (2013)
Mario Balotelli has always been famous for his daring moments on the pitch, and in an AC Milan match, he surprised fans with an impromptu move. The Italian striker performed a spectacular overhead kick, sending the ball into the net to the excitement of his teammates and the audience. However, that joy was quickly extinguished when the referee disallowed the goal.
The reason was that before Balotelli made that spectacular finish, the ball had already gone out of bounds, making the goal meaningless. Despite trying to argue, the decision was still upheld. Given his personality, Balotelli was certainly not pleased, but this was just one of the countless crazy moments he has created on the pitch.
Top 3: Kevin Keegan vs Manchester United (1981)
Ever since his playing days, Kevin Keegan had always enjoyed beating Manchester United, and he almost did so in the 1981 match between Southampton and the Red Devils. Keegan fired a beautiful volley into the net, sending the stadium into a frenzy. However, his and his teammates’ joy was quickly extinguished when the referee ruled out the goal because David Armstrong had been offside in the build-up to the goal.
Despite the goal being ruled out, Keegan and Southampton did not give up. The team continued to press, and in the end, Armstrong—who had inadvertently denied Keegan a goal—scored the winning goal in the dying minutes of the match. This not only helped Southampton win, but also demonstrated the fighting spirit that never gave up, a trait Keegan would demonstrate throughout his playing and coaching careers.
Top 2: Pedro Mendes vs Manchester United (2005)
Manchester United were lucky to escape defeat against Tottenham in 2005, when an incredible mistake by goalkeeper Roy Carroll could have cost them a goal. Spurs midfielder Pedro Mendes fired a shot from long range, which flew towards the United goal without much apparent danger. However, Carroll fumbled the ball, allowing it to bounce off his hand and over the line before he rushed back to hook the ball back.
Although the ball had completely crossed the line, no referee noticed it. Tottenham reacted furiously, but the goal was still disallowed. Fortunately for United, Carroll avoided an embarrassing moment. After the match, the incident sparked fierce debate about the need for goal-line technology, as it was clearly a legitimate goal that Spurs had not been awarded.
Top 1: Thierry Henry vs Blackburn (2003) and George Best vs England (1971)
Arsenal legend Henry was responsible for the most brazenly disallowed goal on this list, when he stole the ball from Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel and crossed it into the net during the Gunners’ unbeaten season in 2003/04. However, referee Alan Wiley played the part of the troublemaker, declaring the goal disallowed as Friedel still had control of the ball.
Henry’s inspiration may have come from a similar effort by George Best in 1971. Gordon Banks was the goalkeeper in question at the time and, like Henry, Best knocked the ball out of the England keeper’s hands and went on to put the ball into the net, only to have it ruled out by the whistleblower. It may not have been the greatest goal, but it was certainly Best’s disallowed goal.
In Conclusion
Despite causing much controversy, the above disallowed goal in soccer is an inseparable part of the king sport. These situations can bring regret to the team whose goal was denied or luck to the opponent, creating memorable stories in football history. Modern technology has helped reduce errors, but cannot completely eliminate controversies. It is these unexpected moments that contribute to the appeal and drama of football, making fans always excited and immersed in each match.
