South Korea 2002: The Refereeing Decisions That Eliminated Italy and Spain

The Republic of Korea enjoyed a historic World Cup run on home soil in 2002. Against all odds, the team reached the semifinals, but its success was also accompanied by enormous controversy. Its matches against Italy in the Round of 16 and Spain in the quarterfinals are widely regarded as two of the most controversial games in FIFA World Cup history.

A Promising Start for South Korea

The first World Cup ever held in Asia generated tremendous excitement, especially because it was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. The Korean national team was drawn into Group D alongside the United States, Portugal, and Poland. It was not an easy group, but there was confidence in the Taeguk Warriors led by Guus Hiddink.

Their opening match came in Busan against Poland, and the Koreans had little trouble securing a 2-0 victory. They displayed dynamic, attacking, and high-intensity football. A few close calls from the officials favored the hosts, but the home-field advantage drew little attention at the time.

Next came a clash with the United States in Daegu. The Americans' ultra-defensive approach caused major problems for South Korea, which fell behind after a goal from Clint Mathis. The hosts struggled to find space, but in the 78th minute, Ahn Jung-hwan scored the equalizer that practically secured their place in the knockout stage.

The final group-stage match against Portugal was where the controversy truly began.

The Portuguese side, led by Luís Figo and Rui Costa, needed a victory after losing to the United States. In the 27th minute, João Pinto was sent off for a challenge that clearly warranted a red card. However, even with the numerical advantage, South Korea still struggled to find the goal that would secure qualification.

Then came another controversial decision. In the 66th minute, the referee showed a second yellow card to Beto, reducing Portugal to nine men. The Portuguese players immediately protested, arguing that the challenge did not deserve a booking.

With a two-man advantage, South Korea finally took its chance. In the 70th minute, Park Ji-sung scored the game's only goal, sending the hosts through as group winners while Portugal was eliminated.

Italy and the Match That Defined Byron Moreno

Waiting in the Round of 16 was Italy in Daejeon.

The Koreans stirred emotions by recalling Italy’s historic defeat to North Korea in 1966. On the other side stood an Azzurri squad loaded with stars, including Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero, Paolo Maldini, Christian Vieri, Fabio Cannavaro, and Gianluigi Buffon.

The referee assigned to the match was Ecuadorian official Byron Moreno, who would later become one of the most controversial referees ever to officiate at a World Cup.

Just five minutes into the game, a highly disputed penalty was awarded to South Korea. Buffon saved the attempt from Ahn Jung-hwan, preserving the scoreless draw.

Shortly afterward, Christian Vieri gave Italy the lead with a header from a corner kick. From that point on, the match became extremely physical. Vieri himself broke Kim Tae-young’s nose, while several hard tackles went without severe punishment. Even Paolo Maldini received a kick to the head in a challenge that many believed deserved a red card.

When it seemed Italy had the match under control, Seol Ki-hyeon equalized in the 88th minute and forced extra time.

That was when the real controversy began.

In the 103rd minute, Totti entered the penalty area and went down after contact. Byron Moreno judged the play to be a dive and showed the Italian captain a yellow card. Since Totti had already been booked earlier, the decision resulted in his dismissal.

Italy could not believe it.

Moments later, the Azzurri appeared to score the golden goal that would send them to the quarterfinals, but it was ruled out for an alleged offside that remains heavily debated to this day.

Italy’s heartbreak arrived in the 117th minute. Ahn Jung-hwan headed home past Buffon, sending South Korea into the quarterfinals.

The reaction in Italy was explosive. There were calls to boycott FIFA competitions, and Ahn, who was playing club football in Italy at the time, saw his contract with Perugia terminated shortly afterward. The controversy was enormous.

But it was far from over.

Spain Also Felt Wronged

Another powerhouse awaited in the quarterfinals: Spain.

La Roja had been playing some of the best football of the tournament and dreamed of reaching a historic semifinal.

In Gwangju, the match was tense, physical, and short on clear scoring opportunities. During the second half, Rubén Baraja found the net for Spain, but Egyptian referee Gamal Al Ghandour disallowed the goal for an alleged offensive foul. Replays raised significant doubts, as it appeared the Korean defender had initiated most of the contact.

Then came the moment that would ignite the controversy even further.

Joaquín beat his marker down the wing and delivered a cross that Fernando Morientes converted for what seemed to be the golden goal. However, the assistant referee raised his flag, ruling that the ball had crossed the end line before the cross was delivered.

Television replays suggested otherwise.

What made the decision even more controversial was that the assistant appeared to signal the infraction before Joaquín had even played the cross.

Spain once again felt unfairly treated.

Morientes later came close with a spectacular volley that struck the post, but the match eventually went to a penalty shootout.

The only Spanish player to miss was Joaquín.

South Korea celebrated a historic qualification, while Spanish players surrounded the referee to protest. Tensions became so high that Iván Helguera had to be restrained by his teammates to prevent the situation from escalating.

The story had already been written.

A Historic Run Ends in the Semifinals

South Korea became the first Asian nation ever to reach a World Cup semifinal.

There, they faced Germany. Unlike the previous rounds, the semifinal unfolded without major controversy. A solitary goal from Michael Ballack sent the Germans into the final. The most notable incident was a yellow card shown to Ballack, which ruled him out of the championship match, although the booking was correctly awarded.

South Korea achieved the greatest World Cup performance in its history and reached a semifinal that remains a source of national pride.

However, for many supporters of Italy and Spain, that remarkable run will always be associated with the controversial decisions made by Byron Moreno and Gamal Al Ghandour.

More than two decades later, the debate remains alive. While Koreans remember 2002 as a historic achievement, Italians and Spaniards continue to view that World Cup as one of the most controversial chapters the sport has ever witnessed.