I’ll let you know by June 1 if I choose you.
Well I'm flattered at least I'm your second choice of what started out as a good natured fun joke!
Now go see if you can find a better bitch!
Emphasis on bitch! The wrong bitch can make a dream game become a f'ing nightmare! The right people make it memorable! One of my friends was the President of Real Madrid after his father stepped down. Was pretty cool going to ta few matches with them.
But best was when I went to the UEFA Scotland vs Italy Euro 2008 qualifying match.
I was invited by a Scottish client (who was also a good friend) to the UEFA Euro 2008 Scotland vs Italy Qualifying match in 2007. We were guests of the (Scottish) team. He was quite well connected. (SO many stories to tell about my experiences in the crowd and in the restaurants with the team afterwards!
Anyways this was a real scandalous match for anyone who knows about the big games in football refereeing corruption history.
Here is the quick highlight reel of the match, with the final controversial penalty kick award at the very end.
I cannot describe the crushing hush of astonishment of the Scottish fans in the stadium. Just silence.
AI Overview
You are referring to the infamous UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match between Scotland and Italy on November 17, 2007, where a highly controversial stoppage-time free-kick awarded by Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto González allowed Italy to win 2-1 and ultimately eliminated Scotland from the tournament.
The Context
Going into the final group match at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland needed a win against the reigning World Champions to guarantee qualification for Euro 2008, while a draw meant they would likely be eliminated.
The Controversial Moment
The defining moment occurred in the 91st minute with the score tied at 1-1. Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo curled a free-kick into the box, from which Christian Panucci headed in the winning goal.
However, the free-kick was awarded in a baffling manner. Scottish full-back Alan Hutton cleanly intercepted the ball and was clearly barged over by Italy's Giorgio Chiellini. Instead of blowing his whistle for a Scottish foul, Mejuto González penalized Hutton, gifting Italy the set-piece that would shatter Scottish hopes
The Aftermath
The decision sparked immense outrage across Scotland:
- Player Reactions: Scotland's star striker James McFadden bluntly stated that the team was "absolutely robbed" and that UEFA essentially did not want Scotland to qualify over the big European nations.
- Manager Response: Scotland manager Alex McLeish was furious, labeling the decision to give Italy the free-kick an "unbelievable decision".
- Wider Suspicions: McLeish later revealed in a documentary that he had received an alarming phone call from an Italian journalist days before the match warning him that UEFA would ensure France and Italy qualified, fueling long-held conspiracy theories.
Despite the fierce accusations of biased officiating from the Tartan Army, UEFA strongly denied any match-fixing or intentional favoritism, backing Mejuto González as one of the world's top referees. Read more about the aftermath on the BBC Sport Archive.
