Sorry, I haven’t been able to post for a while but here’s a well balanced footballer who reacts with good grace to a booking from the ref. Featuring Paraguayan José Pedrozo from the Primera B of the Chilean league who later received a 27-match ban. Love the fact that the crowd are just laughing away as the riot police have to come on.

Like that sudden sinking feeling when you get to your front door and realise that you’ve left your keys at work, here’s MLS ref Ramon Hernandez who has forgotten to bring his cards to the party.

The award for the worst refereeing decision of the season surely has a winner.

Dodgy Ref, Carmelo Lo Faro bemused players, officials and fans of both Airbus UK Broughton and Port Talbot Town when he sent-off Matty Woodward late on into Saturday’s 0-0 draw at the wind-swept Airfield.

As the wind blew the ball away at a free-kick, Woodward picked up the ball to bring it back to its correct position only to be shown a second yellow card for apparent time wasting. Well done Ref!

FA Cup 5th Round, 18th February 1978 at The Racecourse Ground. Blythe are 1-0 up coming into the last minute of the game had got there via the following route:

Sep 77 – 1st Rd Qualifier:

Sep 77 – 2nd Rd Qualifier: Crook Town (away)

Oct 77 – 2nd Rd Qualifier Replay: Crook Town (home)

Oct 77 – 3rd Rd Qualifier: Consett (away)

Nov 77 – 4th Rd: Bishop Auckland (away)

Nov 77 – 1st Rd: Burscough (home)

Dec 77 – 2nd Rd: Chesterfield (home)

Jan 78 – 3rd Rd: Enfield

Feb 78 – 4th Rd Stoke City (away – called off twice due to the cold)

Feb 78 – 5th Rd Wrexham (away)

Then, in the last minute, referee Alf Grey intervened. Wrexham’s Les Cartwright took a corner kick (Although the ball had clearly gone behind via a Wrexham player’s foot) after moving the flag. Blyth’s keeper, Dave Clarke, caught the ball but Grey ordered a retake. Again the ball was cleared but again the flag had fallen over. From the second retake, Wrexham cruelly levelled. 7.10 into the video

In the replay, thousands were locked out of St James’ Park as 42,000-plus saw Wrexham win 2-1 to deny Blythe a famous home tie against Arsenal in the 6th Round. More here in this great article from WSC.

Take note Thierry Henry, this is how to be honest and show a bit of sportsmanship. This is Costin Lazar of Rapid Bucureşti refusing to take a penalty because he didn’t believe the defender had actually fouled him.

Some great slapstick comedy from Brazil, which is a bit of a surprise considering how rubbish all the players must be to get outrun by the ref.

Was it just over the line? There are plenty of examples of close calls where the referee and his assistant have to make a split second decision on whether the ball has crept over the line. Here are three of the best refereeing howlers.

1. 15th August 2009. Freddie Sears hooks his shot into the back of the net for Crystal Palace against Bristol City and while he wheels away to celebrate referee Rob Shoebridge inexplicably awards a goal-kick even after consulting with his linesman. To make matters worse for Neil Warnock Bristol City went on to score the winner in the 89th minute.

2. 6 September 1980. Crytal Palace have previous with phantom goals. During Palace’s 3-1 away defeat to Coventry City, Allen, who had already scored earlier in the game, was fouled just outside the Coventry penalty area. Allen took the free-kick himself, which flew into the top corner and thumped against the right-hand stanchion and appeared to hit the net before flying back out again. After much arguing and consulting with his linesman, the referee decided that the goal did not count.

3. February 1993. This one just about takes the biscuit as far as dreadful refereeing decisions go. Les Mottram failed to notice Dundee’s shot had come back from the inside stanchion against Partick Thistle. Worse still, he didn’t even notice Partick defender Martin Clark calmly catching the ball and handing it back to goalkeeper Andy Murdoch to restart play.  Mottram went on to be picked by the Scottish FA to referee in the 1994 World Cup the following year.

In a Spanish second division game between Tenerife and Xerez the referee gets on the receiving end of late and cynical challenge.

If only players would get back on their feet so quickly.