Liverpool's Robbie Fowler among five of the most controversial penalty decisions

David Cooper - Writer 15:12 08/11/2018
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  • Robbie Fowler against Arsenal in 1997

    Raheem Sterling won a penalty for Manchester City when he fell over after kicking the turf in their 6-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

    Referee Viktor Kassai wrongly awarded the spot kick which Gabriel Jesus scored.

    Here, we look at other controversial and bizarre penalty decisions.

    Robbie Fowler v Arsenal, 1997

    The striker won a UEFA Fair Play award after trying to convince referee Gerald Ashby that David Seaman had not touched him when a penalty was awarded at Highbury.

    Fowler went down as Seaman rushed out but immediately insisted there was no contact between the pair.

    Ashby stuck to his decision and Seaman saved Fowler’s spot kick – only for Jason McAteer to score the rebound as Liverpool won 2-1.

    Gordon Watson v Leeds, 1992

    In the era before diving became commonplace, Sheffield Wednesday’s Gordon Watson could lay claim to one of the worst.

    At Hillsborough against rivals Leeds, the striker launched himself into the air a couple of paces after United defender Chris Whyte had stretched to prod the ball away.

    John Lukic turned John Sheridan’s penalty onto the post, only for the winger to stab in the rebound but Leeds overcame the sense of injustice by winning 6-1.

    Arjen Robben v Mexico, 2014

    Holland were 1-0 down with two minutes left and on the verge of going out of the World Cup in Brazil.

    Wesley Sneijder had levelled with two minutes left before Robben earned a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

    Raphael Marquez stretched for the ball but Robben kicked the back of his own left leg while initiating contact with Marquez allowing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to score and send Holland into the quarter finals.

    Besart Berisha v Perth Glory, 2012

    The former Burnley misfit will be better known for this comical penalty than his forgettable spell at Turf Moor.

    Deep into stoppage time in the A-League Grand Final, Brisbane Roar were awarded a penalty after Berisha’s air kick saw him end up on the ground and Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot.

    Berisha, who had scored Roar’s equaliser, converted to win the final 2-1 in the most controversial fashion.

    Corry Evans v Switzerland, 2017

    Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup suffered a damaging blow when they lost 1-0 at home to Switzerland in the first-leg of their play-off.

    But it was the nature of the defeat which angered the hosts after referee Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan awarded a penalty against Corry Evans.

    The official gave the spot kick for handball but replays showed Xherdan Shaqiri’s volley struck Evans on the back. Northern Ireland’s protests did not stop AC Milan defender Ricardo Rodriguez scoring from 12 yards.

    Provided by Press Association Sport 

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