Bad Ref stories from the 70s (2 of 2)

If you watch or read any documentary on 1974 WC Final, you will see so much praise for Jack Taylor the referee of the game. He gave Netherlands a penalty in the 2nd minute before the ball touching any German player, and the game was at Munich. It was one of toughest decisions ever for a referee.

...... and by the way, it was the first penalty kick ever to be awarded in a WC Final.

Yet, he was not free of mistakes. When I got the game on video, and from what I read on the orange side, I was waiting to watch Johan Cruyff magic and Netherlands great team. I thought Netherlands dominated the game and was very unlucky to lose.

Well, never trust journalists : )
Netherlands and Cruyff were great as said, no doubt. However, German side deserved the victory 100%, and Beckenbauer was more than amazing. For me, he was the man of the match. Add to that, that the real score should not be 2-1, but 4-1 to Germany.

Jack denied a very clear goal. When you watch it, you think it was an offside. Even players didn't object much.



But, if you see replays, and pause the clip, you can see it was 100% correct goal that was disallowed.

Later, Dieter Muller was fouled inside the penalty box, I seen it again and again, and it was a penalty no doubt. Unfortunately, I could not find the video on YouTube.

What is different, however, for this German side, and in many great teams, is to keep focus, stay in control and play strong football, irregardless of bad decisions. This what made Germany World Cup hero in 1974.

You can name many other incidents, in such situations, when players started to lose nerves and focus, and start to do the silly stuff and cry after that.