The German National Team: A History of Controversial Referee Decisions
Referee Decision Proves Costly as DFB-Elf Suffers Defeat
By Ben Redelings
Football has always been a game of drama, and the German national team has had its fair share of nail-biting, controversial moments. However, it seems that ladies (and referees) have changed their perception towards the German squad.
Let's rewind to the 1974 World Cup final against the Netherlands, where the Dutch will never forget the contentious scene that led to the 1:1 equalizer. The contact between Bernd Hölzenbein and Willem Jansen was hotly debated, with some suggesting it was far more substantial than it appeared. To this day, the Dutch consider it a clear error from English referee Jack Taylor, with the term "Schwalbe" becoming a part of their language to describe erroneous calls.
Flash forward to the 1990 World Cup final, where Rudi Völler found himself in the Argentine penalty area, seemingly brought down by Roberto Sensini. Referee Edgardo Codesal Méndez from Mexico saw things differently, awarding a penalty for Germany. Völler himself admitted that he might not have received the penalty if given a second look, suggesting that VAR could have prevented such errors.
The discussion about VAR and its potential impact on football was primarily driven by the 2010 World Cup round of 16 match between Germany and England. Frank Lampard's clear goal was not seen by referee Jorge Larrionda from Uruguay, resulting in a significant disadvantage for England, who ultimately lost 4:1. To this day, the English can rightfully complain about this scene.
The Shift in Favor of the Opponents
While the German national team had its share of good fortune with referees in the past, things have changed dramatically. The iconic quote from Günter Netzer after the match against England in 2010, "Football doesn't need video evidence. Football is drama!", now seems inadequate given the current state of play.
Controversial decisions have caused significant setbacks for the German team in recent years. For example, in a crucial moment during a match against France in the Nations League third-place playoff, referee Ivan Kružliak from Slovakia twice hesitated to blow his whistle, with the potential to change the outcome of the game.
Though complaining won't alter the past, it's essential to recognize that referee decisions have played a pivotal role in the team's performance. The matches against France and Spain, had the referees made different calls, could have ended in victories for the German team.
Source: ntv.de
- Football
- National Football Team
- International Match
- Nations League
- World Championships
- European Championships
Noteable Decisions:
- Controversial Goal vs. Portugal (Nations League, 2025):
- Portugal fiercely protested a goal allowed against Germany, alleging potential infringements, but the referee chose not to intervene.
- VAR Interventions in the Nations League Third-Place Match vs. France (2025):
- VAR overturned a penalty awarded to Germany for contact on Rudi Völler, demonstrating a marginal call in the referee's favor. Subsequently, a goal was disallowed for a foul by Niclas Füllkrug on Adrien Rabiot, leading to further questioning of the referee's decision-making.
These incidents serve to remind us that referee decisions, both for and against the German national team, can have significant, often disputed, effects on the outcome of matches.
- The German National Team has faced a significant shift in treatment from referees, a stark contrast to the controversies they encountered in the past.
- Vocational training programs could greatly benefit from sports analysis, as understanding the patterns and decisions made in football could provide valuable insights for developing skilled referees.
- In the Nations League, the German team experienced a series of notable decisions, such as a controversial goal against Portugal and the use of VAR during the third-place match against France, which raised questions about the fairness of referee decisions.
