In a 1978 World Cup Group Stage encounter, Brazil and Sweden were tied 1-1 as the game approached its dying embers. With mere minutes left to be played, Brazil won a corner, and the kick came swooping in toward Zico, who thumped in a header to apparently give A Seleção all three points. However, Welsh referee John Thomas saw things a little differently and wrapped his lips around his whistle to signify the end of the contest, effectively wiping out Zico's effort and handing Sweden the draw. By the letter of the law, the referee is supposed to wait for an attack to fizzle out before blowing his whistle to end either half of a game, and should have waited for Sweden to clear the corner before calling an end. To make matters even worse for the Brazilians, replays showed Thomas blowing for full-time AFTER Zico's header had crossed the line. Scandalous. This controversy would lead to Brazil finishing as runners up in their group while hosts Argentina would go on to lift the World Cup.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
