Here’s something new for football, controversy. After just one round of matches at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, there’s already been plenty of it.

The biggest fuss surrounded the thrilling 4-3 win by Brazil over Egypt in Group B on Monday (June 15th). Brazil seemed to have the game in control and were cruising with a 3-1 lead in the 52nd minute, but Egypt struck with two quick goals and the game was all squared up at 3-3 by the 54th minute.

The one point would have been a moral victory for the Egyptians and of course it would have helped them immensely in the standings, but somebody always has to spoil the party and this time it was Egyptian defender Ahmed Al Muhamadi, who handled the ball on his goal line just before the game was over. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Muhamadi then went down as if he’d been hit in the head with a cricket bat.

English referee Howard Webb originally fell for it and pointed to the corner, but after a chat with the fourth official, he then pointed to the penalty spot about two minutes later and gave Muhamadi the heave ho from the game. Kaka then calmly strode up for Brazil and slid home the game winner.

Now, the fact that Webb called a penalty didn’t seem to upset the Egyptian coaching team as they freely admitted it was a penalty. In fact, a blind man could have spotted it from the last row of the stadium, and of course that’s why the three refs on the pitch missed it.

What upset the Egyptians is the fact Webb pointed to the spot after they claim he was told it should have been a penalty by the fourth official after said official watched a video replay of the infraction. Egypt filed a complaint at the way the penalty was called, not why it was called, because they say replay isn’t allowed.

Well, it was a nice try and of course there’s no way to prove it. But this nonsense is the exact reason that replay should be brought into the game. It was a blatant penalty and if the fourth official didn’t say anything it would have been daylight robbery. It took about 10 seconds to see via TV replays that the ball was clearly handled by Muhamadi and his injury was a figment of his imagination. What the hell is a fourth official good for if he can’t tell the referee what’s going on during the game if he sees it with his own two eyes?

The America vs Italy Group B game also stirred up some emotions as a dodgy penalty and red card were awarded by the referee in that affair. The US had Ricardo Clark sent off in the 32nd minute, but then took the lead seven minutes later on a penalty as Landon Donovan converted from the spot for his 40th goal for his country. It wasn’t enough though as Italy came back with goals in the 58th, 71st, and 90th minutes for a 3-1 win.

In Group A, Fernando Torres scored a hat trick in the first 17 minutes as Spain thumped New Zealand 5-0. In the other Group A match, host nation South Africa drew 0-0 with Iraq.

Everton striker Louis Saha made English FA Cup Final history today (May 30th) at Wembley Stadium in London, England, as he scored after just 25 seconds, before most of the crowd of 89,000 had settled into their seats. It eclipsed the old mark of 30 seconds set by Aston Villa’s Bob Chatt against West Brom way back in 1895.

While it gave Everton a flying start, it was probably also the worst thing to happen for them as they tried to sit back and protect the slim margin for the next 90 minutes. Of course it didn’t work as Chelsea dominated the rest of the way and came out 2-1 winners for their second FA Cup win at the new Wembley in the last three years, and their fifth triumph in the competition overall.

It didn’t take long for Chelsea’s Didier Drogba to do what he does best, which is score in English cup finals (FA and League Cups) as he drove in a powerful header in the 21st minute to tie the score at 1-1. It was the sixth-straight cup final goal for Drogba. He also scored in this year’s semi-final and quarter-final games.

Frank Lampard sealed the victory in the 72nd minute with a fine 20-yard shot that Everton keeper Tim Howard could only parry into the net. It looked like Florent Malouda had given Chelsea a 3-1 lead about five minutes later when his venomous long-range shot from 30 yards slammed off the underside of the crossbar and came crashing down over the goal line. Referee Howard Webb let play carry on, while television replays showed that the ball had clearly crossed the line.

This brings up the topic again of video replay and why it’s needed in football today. This could have been a huge missed call if Everton had come back to tie the game. It’s about time FIFA got off its ass and implemented television replays or loaded the pitch up with extra officials and goal line judges.

Everton didn’t come back though, and with only one striker up front it’s quite evident at the moment that their manager David Moyes and the players aren’t good enough to pull off a cup win. Their loss today sets a record for FA Cup failures as they’ve now lost the final eight times. They have won it five times as well mind you, but were hurt by having a few good players out with injury, especially Arteta and Yakubu. Going with one guy up front’s not going to win you many games against Chelsea though.

It was a great send off for Chelsea’s interim manager Guus Hiddink who worked wonders with the club since taking over in February. Chelsea only lost one game out of 21 under Hiddink’s reign, and with any luck could have also possibly added the Champions League to the trophy haul this season. The Dutchman will now head back to Russia to resume his job as the country’s national coach.

Another guy who will be celebrating long into the night will be Ashley Cole, who was officially named man of the match and became the first player in over 100 years to win five FA Cup medals. He won three with Arsenal and another with Chelsea in 2007.

Chelsea may have won something much bigger than the cup today though, as they have now appeared to win the respect and admiration of many neutral football fans. While Jose Mourinho, and Luiz Felipe Scolari were in charge, the team wasn’t quite as likeable as they were perceived to be arrogant and bought their way to cup finals. However, since Hiddink took over, it’s almost been a 180 degree turnaround as his calm and friendly manner has worked wonders for the team. Whoever takes over as manager next season will have a huge set of boots to fill.

Good luck to him.

Howard Webb’s decision to award Manchester United a penalty in Saturday’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur has led to calls for the introduction of technology in the game to be rapidly stepped up.

The decision was made based on an apparent foul by Spurs goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, on Michael Carrick when TV replays after the incident showed that Gomes had clearly touched the ball.

Subsequently the penalty was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo and from 2-0 down United went on to win the game at a canter. Since the event Webb has come out publicly in the media and admitted he got the decision wrong.

He said: “I have looked at it again and I think it was a mistake but we make these decisions honestly. It’s not always easy to see the way the play pans out from pitch level.”

Webb’s mistake prompted fury on the Spurs match as manager, Harry Redknapp, said the incident changed the entire face of the game. He later called for the 4th official on the sidelines to be paying particular attention to TV monitors around him and being in constant touch with the referee on field.

Redknapp said after the game: “The referee made a terrible mistake. You should have technology. The fourth official should be watching the TV monitor and talking to the referee.”

Redknapp’s cries of outrage have once again opened up the debate on the use of technology in the modern game. For the last few years the demand for goal line technology to decipher whether or not a ball has crossed the line has been high.

Especially after ‘Reading’s Phantom Goal’ when referee, Stuart Atwell, awarded the Royals a goal in their Premier League fixture against Watford, despite the ball having flown yards wide.

Technology in football will happen at some point. The problem is it is a painfully slow process for all involved. It took years for referees and linesman just to be allowed microphone technology to be able to talk to each other without having to run from one end of the pitch to the other.

It is baffling why football seems so reluctant to let the help of technology seep into the modern game. Everyone wants to see fairer and more accurate games. None of the entertainment or excitement value will be lost by allowing its introduction to the sport.

Only when it is introduced, and mirrors the examples of other sports such as cricket, tennis and rugby, will we see fairer and more correct decision being made. The decision on Sunday could have been remedied in a matter of seconds and everyone would have been satisfied that the right out come had been made.

High profile managers sitting in the stands are allowed small monitors in front of them at most games so why not the 4th official?

This is clearly something the FA have to investigate. If they do not then sooner or later it could be the fine dividing line between a club going up to the Premier League or being relegated from League football entirely.