Paul Scholes says Tottenham were involved in the worst refereeing decision he’s seen in his life
Refereeing errors have long been part of football’s rich and, at times, frustrating history. From dubious red cards to contentious penalties and unawarded goals, high-profile mistakes by officials can change the course of matches—and even seasons. Tottenham Hotspur, like many top clubs, have been on both sides of such controversy over the years.
One of the most infamous examples came on the biggest stage of all: the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final. Just minutes into the game against Liverpool, Tottenham were on the receiving end of a controversial VAR decision. Moussa Sissoko was judged to have handled the ball inside the box, resulting in a penalty that Mohamed Salah converted. The incident set the tone for the match, and Spurs never fully recovered.
Fast forward to more recent times, and the implementation of VAR hasn’t entirely solved the problem. In the 2023/24 season, Tottenham suffered again at the hands of questionable officiating during a Premier League clash with Chelsea. In that match, midfielder Moisés Caicedo avoided a red card for what many felt was a reckless and dangerous tackle. Even with video review available, VAR failed to intervene decisively, and Spurs were left to rue the consequences.
However, Tottenham have also been the beneficiaries of refereeing blunders. A particularly controversial moment came in a 2023 game against Liverpool when Luis Diaz had a goal ruled out for offside. Replays showed he was clearly onside, and the mistake drew widespread criticism and led to an apology from the referees’ governing body. These examples underline just how unpredictable and imperfect officiating can still be, even with technology in play.
Legendary former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes recently weighed in on the issue during an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast. When asked to name the worst refereeing decision he had ever witnessed, Scholes didn’t hesitate. His mind went back to a notorious incident involving Tottenham Hotspur in a 2005 Premier League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Pedro Mendes’ “Ghost Goal” – The Blunder That Still Stings
The moment in question came when Tottenham’s Pedro Mendes launched a speculative shot from over 40 yards out. United’s goalkeeper Roy Carroll misjudged the bounce and ended up spilling the ball well behind the goal line. But astonishingly, neither the referee nor the assistant signaled for a goal. Play continued as if nothing had happened, and Spurs were denied what should have been a famous win at the Theatre of Dreams.
Scholes recalled the incident with disbelief. “Oh God, Roy Carroll over the line? It was miles over the line,” he said. Sitting beside him, Gary Neville—also a member of that United side—agreed: “You’re right, the ball was over the line, it was that far over the line.”
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Reaction
Even the ever-dominant Sir Alex Ferguson, United’s manager at the time, acknowledged that Tottenham had been wronged. Speaking after the match, Ferguson admitted that goal-line technology was needed in the game. “I don’t think you can blame the linesman or the referee,” he said. “Even from my position I wasn’t dead sure. The linesman was scurrying back, but he couldn’t do it. That could’ve won the game for them.”
However, true to form, Ferguson also pointed to what he believed was a missed penalty call for United. “We should’ve had a penalty kick when Rio Ferdinand was brought down. All your highlights are about that goal, but you’re missing another obvious bad decision.”
Goal-line Technology: A Long Time Coming
The Mendes incident was one of several moments that contributed to the eventual implementation of goal-line technology in football. Other examples include Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany in the 2010 World Cup, where the ball clearly crossed the line, and Luis Garcia’s contentious “ghost goal” for Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.
In domestic football, Clint Hill’s header for QPR against Bolton in 2012, which was not given despite clearly crossing the line, also added to the pressure for change. And of course, one of the most debated incidents in football history remains Geoff Hurst’s second goal in the 1966 World Cup Final—still argued over decades later as to whether the ball truly crossed the line.
A Safer Future with Technology
Fortunately, the modern game now benefits from the presence of goal-line technology, which has largely eradicated such blunders. In tight matches and high-stakes scenarios, the certainty it brings is invaluable. While VAR remains a topic of debate and has yet to win over all fans, the presence of instant and objective goal-line decisions is one of the few technological advances that has near-universal support.
Tottenham may continue to experience highs and lows when it comes to officiating, but one thing is clear—football has come a long way since the days when a 40-yard lob and a fumbled save could be completely forgotten by a pair of blind eyes on the pitch.