Spoiler alert: Ronaldo scored
Howard Webb reached the pinnacle of refereeing in his career, taking charge of both the Champions League final and the World Cup final in 2010.
But like everyone, he did not get there without making mistakes along the way – or indeed in those highest moments, sorry Xabi.
Speaking to The Athletic, the former referee revealed the mistake he regretted making more than Nigel De Jong’s infamous kung-fu kick at Soccer City.
Cast your mind back to 2009, when Manchester United were dominating English football with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney leading the line.
United were playing Tottenham at Old Trafford, and the away side had taken an early two-goal lead through Darren Bent and Luke Modric.
But as always, United fought back, and won a penalty just before the hour mark after Michael Carrick was (supposedly) fouled by Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes.
“I could see Carrick got there first and then the goalkeeper clattered into him. It was really an easy penalty award,” Webb recalled.
“I was expecting the usual cursory appeal that you get from the players, not the huge look of absolute astonishment and amazement and incredulousness on the look of Gomes. It was obvious within seconds I’d got the decision wrong. There was something more to this.”
Spurs players reacted with genuine astonishment at the decision, knowing that Gomes had actually made contact with the ball and therefore committed a fair challenge.
With no VAR to help, and the view of both his assistants obscured, Webb had no option but to stick with his original decision, and hope that Ronaldo would miss the subsequent spot kick.
“I was left with the decision I had taken with no independent evidence that I’d got it wrong other than a gut feeling, and I was just hoping that Ronaldo would miss the penalty. But he didn’t.”
Ronaldo scored, and Rooney went on to level the scoring 10 minutes later, and the floodgates opened, as United ran away 5-2 victors.
Webb recalls then Spurs boss Harry Redknapp’s anger subsiding quickly after the incident.
“He went from being irate and agitated to where he ended up counselling me,” Webb said. “He said, ‘Don’t let it ruin Christmas. These things happen.”
