IN FOCUS: Match 47 - Argentina vs. England, Ali Bennaceur
A Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina defeated England by two goals to one in their famous World Cup 1986 quarterfinal, with the star striker netting two of the most famous scores in football history. The second was a sublime dribbling move, crowned the goal of the twentieth century by FIFA, but the first severely implicated the officials - Maradona had handled the ball into the goal, and it was allowed to stand.
Ever important to anyone wishing to partake in a British pub quiz, the game's referee was Ali Bennaceur from Tunisia. The appointment of an official from the third world to such an important game raised many eyebrows here. Actually, the Tunisian ref would have proved them wrong - but for that moment, where he and linesman Bogdan Dočev were so infamously outwitted by Maradona's disguised helping hand.
Preface
While the meeting of them at the World Cup previous would have been quite something else entirely, FIFA were nevertheless very worried about this clash between Argentina and England at an important stage of the Mexico 86 tournament. The Falklands conflict had only been a matter of years before, and designation of the officials for the quarterfinal tie was a task which they had to approach delicately.
The FA had rejected officials from Latin America, and AFA did not want a UEFA official in charge, essentially leaving FIFA with options from two continents, Africa and Asia. We can cross them off one by one: Al-Sharif and Al-Shanar stood in England's last match, Takada had no political backing, Traoré was way too weak, and Picon-Ackong had aroused too much attention in Paraguay vs. Iraq.
Actually, only Ali Bennaceur was realistically an option for this appointment. FIFA knew that Al-Shanar and Traoré were both much too poor, and for all Takada's and Picon-Ackong's merit, referees from both Japan (in 1986) and Mauritius would have been considered way too capricious choices - the difference between those two and an origin reading "Tunisia" is actually quite vast.
Actually, only Ali Bennaceur was realistically an option for this appointment. FIFA knew that Al-Shanar and Traoré were both much too poor, and for all Takada's and Picon-Ackong's merit, referees from both Japan (in 1986) and Mauritius would have been considered way too capricious choices - the difference between those two and an origin reading "Tunisia" is actually quite vast.
I do wonder if Jamal Al-Sharif would have had a chance. With his ultra-fitness and generally sound-looking style (the reality was rather different, mind), plus Farouk Bouzo in his corner, I wonder whether the Syrian must have had a shot at getting this match. It would sent his career in a quite remarkable and different direction, certainly. In any case, handling England in the round before, he was out.
So it was Bennaceur who got the gig. This appointment was crescendo of a very big World Cup cycle for him, in which he refereed two AFCON finals on the spin (the latter in front of 120 000 people and he correctly disallowed a 'goal' for the hosts too; the Azteca on this afternoon must have been a walk in the park! :)), and attending the World Youth Championship 1985 in the Soviet Union.
Appointments including to the politically significant quarterfinal in that tournament between the hosts and China, and to an all-Euro group stage clash at this World Cup, show that FIFA were confident about Bennaceur's ability, and recognised how handy it would be to have such a 'neutral' and reliable official in their 'back pocket' if the need arose, as it did here.
The selections as to who Bennaceur's teammates should be were equally fraught. AFA probably accepted Berny Ulloa Morera's nomination - they probably couldn't have gotten a South American on the line, and the Costa Rican (from a very non-aligned nation, too) would have impressed them with his handling of their low-key group stage tie versus Bulgaria.
I guess FIFA suggested Bodgan Dočev (Bulgaria) quite deliberately - the Bulgarian was well-trusted by FIFA on the line (eg. Italy vs. Brazil in 82), and he and Bennaceur had worked together in their last two matches (and the first was very eventful), and FIFA must have thought that they would work well as a duo. Being from Europe's East, ie. not a friend of Britain, probably sealed his designation.
The final confirmation that FIFA were very anxious to have a neutral-looking officials team on this game is their choice of reserve linesman (fourth official) - besides the two finals and Mexico matches, on only just over 10% of appointments was the fourth man not from the host nation, but on this match they were taking no risks. Idrissa Traoré from Mali stood as reserve linesman to complete the refs team for this tie.
The final confirmation that FIFA were very anxious to have a neutral-looking officials team on this game is their choice of reserve linesman (fourth official) - besides the two finals and Mexico matches, on only just over 10% of appointments was the fourth man not from the host nation, but on this match they were taking no risks. Idrissa Traoré from Mali stood as reserve linesman to complete the refs team for this tie.
Match Video
Full refereeing highlights can be found in the link below.
Big Decision
In the fifty-first minute of this hitherto scoreless game, Diego Maradona performed his 'Hand of God', undetected by the Tunisian referee and Bulgarian linesman, to give Argentina the lead. While Maradona does deserve credit for how he craftily pulled it off, the decision will forever remain one of the most famous officiating mistakes in World Cup history - timestamp.
Everyone is wise after the event - while it remains a quite terrible oversight by referee Ali Bennaceur and linesman Bogdan Dočev, they weren't the only ones fooled by Diego Maradona. The Argentina striker very skilfully moved his head simultaneously as punching the ball in the net, only visible to many after a number of replay sequences.
This is perhaps the classic example of how the expectation-perception-recognition factor is problematic for referees. Both Bennaceur and Dočev both stated that they felt something 'smelt' wrong with the goal at the time, but they weren't certain that it was handled it in. Because there was doubt, and they hardly could have been expecting a handball at that moment, they swallowed their doubts and both confirmed the goal.
Both should have seen it, but more blame should go in Dočev's direction than his ref's - handling offences like that are much easier to detect on the line, and it wasn't on the Bulgarian's blind side either; he had an open line of vision into what happened, and even for 1986, instantly flagging for the handling should have been his instinctive reaction.
Perhaps he was put off by focusing on a potential offside, of course irrelevant as England's Steve Hodge had kicked the ball back. In the first half, he had wrongly flagged in a scene where the defender had actually played the ball, and losing his focus on the action (perhaps expecting an easy catch for goalkeeper Shilton too against the short Maradona), perhaps even for a split second, was decisive too.
Dočev states in rare interviews on the match: 1) that he was discreetly signalling Bennaceur to come out to him but the Tunisian didn't, and, 2) that before the match, the Tunisian referee had indicated the respective vicinities of his linesmen, with the obvious nod to Maradona's handling being not his own visual control, but of the referee.
I don't think either really saves Dočev in any kind of way. The second point is very standard pre-match procedure, and if he saw the handling in his visual control clearly, the instict to flag would have taken over. It is only because the Bulgarian doubted his perception, that he didn't take clear and instant action. I'm not really sure that the first point is exonerating either.
You can see Bennaceur running backwards towards the centre circle, looking out to his linesman, waiting for any signal to indicate that he should rule out the goal. None came. Indeed, Dočev even got back to standing on the halfway line, the clear signal in those days that there was no issue with the goal and everything was okay.
I do think Bennaceur failed as a team member too though. He seemed (also from reading interviews) a bit too happy to let Dočev take the 'hot potato' of this decision which obviously neither were really sure about. He must have seen in Dočev's eyes that the Bulgarian had doubts, he should have gone out for a public talk with him. He let Dočev, indecisive and a weak though he was here, fall on his own sword.
If I may make this comparison, it was quite a Challenger moment. Dočev simply panicked, wasn't completely sure of what he saw, and didn't speak up when he should have. Bennaceur too - he just let his linesman 'suffer' on the sideline, rather than taking the initiative himself. The feeling in Dočev's heart, after England kicked off and he knew he had caved, must have been quite awful.
You can see Bennaceur running backwards towards the centre circle, looking out to his linesman, waiting for any signal to indicate that he should rule out the goal. None came. Indeed, Dočev even got back to standing on the halfway line, the clear signal in those days that there was no issue with the goal and everything was okay.
I do think Bennaceur failed as a team member too though. He seemed (also from reading interviews) a bit too happy to let Dočev take the 'hot potato' of this decision which obviously neither were really sure about. He must have seen in Dočev's eyes that the Bulgarian had doubts, he should have gone out for a public talk with him. He let Dočev, indecisive and a weak though he was here, fall on his own sword.
If I may make this comparison, it was quite a Challenger moment. Dočev simply panicked, wasn't completely sure of what he saw, and didn't speak up when he should have. Bennaceur too - he just let his linesman 'suffer' on the sideline, rather than taking the initiative himself. The feeling in Dočev's heart, after England kicked off and he knew he had caved, must have been quite awful.
The whole scene must have been so intense. Remember, as Bennaceur is running backwards towards the centre circle, he and Dočev are making eye contact all the while, at an extreme high pressure moment. Quite incredible. Both passed the responsibility of the moment onto each other, and neither Bennaceur or Dočev (especially) had the courage step up - and in doing so, sealed their eternal places in football infamy.
Managing the Game
I guess the fact that is most forgotten about this game is that despite all the Falklands talk before a ball kicked (and afterwards too), it was quite the opposite of a rumbustious battle on the pitch - actually, Ali Bennaceur faced a decidely moderate task as referee, handling a quite edgy but actually very fair-spirited tie, though the latter is also to his credit.
The atmosphere on the pitch was quite unique - while it was very football-focused, one also had the impression that one single incident was enough to set the game on fire. I guess really the players were quite nervous, and for most of the game, it was played on a knife edge; Falklands faded into the distance, at least during the match.
Bennaceur read exactly that atmosphere on the pitch too, instantly whistling down more agricultural ball-playing tackles which would have been read as fair in many other matches in 1986, and running in to prevent any player-player escalation. The Tunisian referee did this as soon as the first forty-five seconds (clip), and on further occasions later on in the match.
Terry Fenwick's caution in the ninth minute was one of the most dramatic refereeing decisions of the competition in my humble opinion (clip). Maradona had just gone on a mazy run before being crudely taken down, and Bennaceur brilliantly gave him an instant caution. By taking clear action (the game's other booking, at 60', also showed great game-feeling (clip)) the ref set the tone for the rest of the match!
I would have cautioned Steve Hodge after fouls at 32' and 34' (seq. clips), the first was a deliberate SPA push, followed by a clear stamp/treading foul and an angry tirade afterwards; it was obvious the England player had lost his composure. If Hodge was a bit lucky not to have been booked there, then already-cautioned Fenwick can consider himself extremely fortunate not to have been expelled later in the game:
40': off-the-ball strike against Maradona, missed by the referee (clip)
43': another strike on Maradona, this time advantage played (clip)
51': being the most vociferous mobbing player after Argentina's first goal (see above)
66': another, this time very reckless, strike on Maradona's head (clip)
85': only the pre-'SYC' vision saves Fenwick here, a cast-iron modern yellow (clip)
The atmosphere on the pitch was quite unique - while it was very football-focused, one also had the impression that one single incident was enough to set the game on fire. I guess really the players were quite nervous, and for most of the game, it was played on a knife edge; Falklands faded into the distance, at least during the match.
Bennaceur read exactly that atmosphere on the pitch too, instantly whistling down more agricultural ball-playing tackles which would have been read as fair in many other matches in 1986, and running in to prevent any player-player escalation. The Tunisian referee did this as soon as the first forty-five seconds (clip), and on further occasions later on in the match.
Terry Fenwick's caution in the ninth minute was one of the most dramatic refereeing decisions of the competition in my humble opinion (clip). Maradona had just gone on a mazy run before being crudely taken down, and Bennaceur brilliantly gave him an instant caution. By taking clear action (the game's other booking, at 60', also showed great game-feeling (clip)) the ref set the tone for the rest of the match!
I would have cautioned Steve Hodge after fouls at 32' and 34' (seq. clips), the first was a deliberate SPA push, followed by a clear stamp/treading foul and an angry tirade afterwards; it was obvious the England player had lost his composure. If Hodge was a bit lucky not to have been booked there, then already-cautioned Fenwick can consider himself extremely fortunate not to have been expelled later in the game:
40': off-the-ball strike against Maradona, missed by the referee (clip)
43': another strike on Maradona, this time advantage played (clip)
51': being the most vociferous mobbing player after Argentina's first goal (see above)
66': another, this time very reckless, strike on Maradona's head (clip)
85': only the pre-'SYC' vision saves Fenwick here, a cast-iron modern yellow (clip)
While Fenwick was on, England had a chance 11-v-11, and the minutes after the Hand of God were frantic for the referee. Straight from kick-off, England had quite a serious appeal for a handling penalty waved off (clip) - the ball very clearly strikes the defender's outstretched arm, but given this occurs after a sliced clearance, ie. a deliberate play, Bennaceur was right to not punish this handball.
And Maradona's epic dribbling goal would never have happened if Bennaceur had blown up for a foul just before he got the ball (clip). It looks bizarre for us now, but play on but is actually coherent with how such scenes were dealt with at this World Cup - if the defender tries to block the ball and makes contact with the attacker who has clearly released it, then most contacts were basically within the laws.
And Maradona's epic dribbling goal would never have happened if Bennaceur had blown up for a foul just before he got the ball (clip). It looks bizarre for us now, but play on but is actually coherent with how such scenes were dealt with at this World Cup - if the defender tries to block the ball and makes contact with the attacker who has clearly released it, then most contacts were basically within the laws.
Bennaceur's quite quirky style was rather interesting to observe. He didn't act as a dictator on the pitch, his general manner was pretty friendly, the players found him agreeable on the pitch, but his interactions with players was of a top-down authority - despite even being quite aggressive at some moments (eg. 26' (clip)), he could still present himself as a friendly person whom the players accepted.
I guess the limitation of his way of refereeing is that he never controlled the pace of the game - he was able to quickly react to incidents, and his tactical approach showed that he had great football-feeling(!), but he was always slightly prisoner to the pace of the proceedings, rather than having it in his palm so-to-speak, and moulding it to his (and the game's!) advantage, by using clear verbal warnings and so on.
Linesmen
We'll start in order of seniority on the day and that first brings us to yellow flag-holding Berny Ulloa Morera. His contribution to this game is actually most noted in a rather comical scene involving Maradona and a corner flag (clip :D). Besides that, he was very quiet indeed, besides a quite important mistake at 82' in a crossover (clip); his young, fit and motivated optic counted strongly in his favour, I'd say.
The game being as it was, Bogdan Dočev was actually not that challenged either. Besides the infamous scene, he was only involved in a small handful of other noteworthy scenes:
20' - correct offside flag against England; good (clip)
25' - incorrect flag, because the defender had played the ball; quite a bad lapse to be honest (clip)
20' - correct offside flag against England; good (clip)
25' - incorrect flag, because the defender had played the ball; quite a bad lapse to be honest (clip)
40' - interesting team member moment (clip)
47' - perhaps a relevant moment between Bennaceur/Dočev on the way to failing as a duo in the Maradona handling scene; quite a weird moment where Bennaceur (wrongly) awards a goalkick and seems to miss Dočev's flag completely, which must remain up, leaving goalkeeper Peter Shilton genuinely confused as to what restart the referee had ordered; a foreboding breakdown in communication? (clip)
53' - confirmation that Dočev was put off in the minutes after the Hand of God, he doesn't flag a clear reverse crossover offside a couple of minutes later (clip)
We rarely, if ever, saw Idrissa Traoré executing his work as reserve linesman, besides once going to monitor medical staff treating an injured player at the side of the pitch, so impossible to really assess his performance from the television footage.
47' - perhaps a relevant moment between Bennaceur/Dočev on the way to failing as a duo in the Maradona handling scene; quite a weird moment where Bennaceur (wrongly) awards a goalkick and seems to miss Dočev's flag completely, which must remain up, leaving goalkeeper Peter Shilton genuinely confused as to what restart the referee had ordered; a foreboding breakdown in communication? (clip)
53' - confirmation that Dočev was put off in the minutes after the Hand of God, he doesn't flag a clear reverse crossover offside a couple of minutes later (clip)
We rarely, if ever, saw Idrissa Traoré executing his work as reserve linesman, besides once going to monitor medical staff treating an injured player at the side of the pitch, so impossible to really assess his performance from the television footage.
Aftermath
England were eliminated, and Argentina would go on to the semifinals, where they would play the winner of the later afternoon (late night in Europe) quarterfinal, the last, between Belgium and Spain.
In terms of this tournament, the mistake to allow Maradona's first goal was obviously the end of the road for Ali Bennaceur and Bogdan Dočev. Interestingly - Berny Ulloa Morera stated that in the changing room after the game, the officials congratulated each other on a good performance, only finding out later what an error they had made, missing the infamous handball goal.
The Costa Rican himself was on other side to the 'trouble' of this incident, and naturally escaped unscathed. So his chances for a further appointment as linesman in the competition were open, especially in Argentina's final match (3rd or the big one), given that his place in this crack reffing team was on the nod of AFA. Idrissa Traoré was not appointed again by FIFA in Mexico.
The Costa Rican himself was on other side to the 'trouble' of this incident, and naturally escaped unscathed. So his chances for a further appointment as linesman in the competition were open, especially in Argentina's final match (3rd or the big one), given that his place in this crack reffing team was on the nod of AFA. Idrissa Traoré was not appointed again by FIFA in Mexico.
After the tournament, Ali Bennaceur's career was not destroyed by the incident, attending the following AFCON in 1988. However, it did have big ramifications for him further down the line - if not for the Hand of God, then Bennaceur would probably have attended the next World Cup in Italy, but because his name was now 'tainted' to the world, FIFA went for a different Tunisian - the younger Neji Jouini.
One final big task was left for Bennaceur though. FIFA selected him to handle the second leg of the critical World Cup playoff between big rivals Egypt and Algeria in November 1989. This was essentially a sacrificial appointment - FIFA knew that he had the quality for such a match, but if it went wrong, it basically didn't matter to them, with Jouini lined up for Italy. This appointment should be read as a compliment!
One has to feel for Bogdan Dočev, as this missed incident not only ruined his career (his match at the Azteca his last ever(!)), but also his entire livelihood. Dočev was treated as a pariah back home who had embarrassed his country on the world stage by allowing Maradona's first goal to stand; no Bulgarian official has attended the World Cup since, and despite being part of two, BFU wanted nothing to do with him c. 86.
Dočev never really got over this game. He holds Bennaceur responsible for not responding to his discreet signals on the line, asserting that "with a European ref, this goal would never have stood". A slur suggesting that the Tunisian would have been better off herding camels than at the World Cup doesn't paint himself in the best light though, to formulate it politely.
One final big task was left for Bennaceur though. FIFA selected him to handle the second leg of the critical World Cup playoff between big rivals Egypt and Algeria in November 1989. This was essentially a sacrificial appointment - FIFA knew that he had the quality for such a match, but if it went wrong, it basically didn't matter to them, with Jouini lined up for Italy. This appointment should be read as a compliment!
One has to feel for Bogdan Dočev, as this missed incident not only ruined his career (his match at the Azteca his last ever(!)), but also his entire livelihood. Dočev was treated as a pariah back home who had embarrassed his country on the world stage by allowing Maradona's first goal to stand; no Bulgarian official has attended the World Cup since, and despite being part of two, BFU wanted nothing to do with him c. 86.
Dočev never really got over this game. He holds Bennaceur responsible for not responding to his discreet signals on the line, asserting that "with a European ref, this goal would never have stood". A slur suggesting that the Tunisian would have been better off herding camels than at the World Cup doesn't paint himself in the best light though, to formulate it politely.
Sadly, Bogdan Dočev died a recluse man in 2017, unable to deal with what happened all those years back. A really tragic story - I hope he now rests in peace.
And finally - Mexico 1986 would be Idrissa Traoré's only World Cup finals participation - a scandal at AFCON 1990, mentioned at the end of the review of his group stage match (Soviet Union vs. Canada, link), ended his career in disgrace. With respect, he really didn't have the quality to return to football's greatest event, at least in a meritocratic way.
Balance
Ali Bennaceur and Bogdan Dočev will forever be linked to the Argentina vs. England quarterfinal at World Cup 1986. While Bennaceur is justified in holding the Bulgarian more responsible than he for the infamous error, it was as a duo that they failed, passing the initiative to the other one, before it was too late and they signed their names to history by allowing the Hand of God goal to stand.
Bennaceur obviously benefitted from his origin in getting this appointment, but he was a good referee on his own merits, and his whole performance displayed that he had the level to handle such top games. His early caution to Terry Fenwick is, I'd even go so far as to say, a highlight moment of this whole World Cup for me, amidst a smart handling of this quarterfinal by the Tunisian official.
Bennaceur obviously benefitted from his origin in getting this appointment, but he was a good referee on his own merits, and his whole performance displayed that he had the level to handle such top games. His early caution to Terry Fenwick is, I'd even go so far as to say, a highlight moment of this whole World Cup for me, amidst a smart handling of this quarterfinal by the Tunisian official.
The stakes are high in the World Cup, and in tragedy, what happened to Bogdan Dočev after this match reminds us of that acutely. He certainly wasn't the only one in the stadium who missed Maradona's handling, but nobody paid for that oversight more than him; no one mistake on the football pitch, made in good faith, should ever be enough to have such an impact on someone's life. A tragic tale indeed.
And to underline how life can turn on such moments - Berny Ulloa Morera, the other linesman, faced a quiet game on his side, and while Dočev was haunted forever by the events of Argentina vs. England, the exact same match was the one that catapulted the Costa Rican official to a World Cup final appointment; a quite remarkable juxtaposition of fates.
Most certainly, this match changed the lives of three officials who controlled it forever.
And to underline how life can turn on such moments - Berny Ulloa Morera, the other linesman, faced a quiet game on his side, and while Dočev was haunted forever by the events of Argentina vs. England, the exact same match was the one that catapulted the Costa Rican official to a World Cup final appointment; a quite remarkable juxtaposition of fates.
Most certainly, this match changed the lives of three officials who controlled it forever.
| Ali Bennaceur (TUN) Berny Ulloa Morera (CRC) Bogdan Dočev (BUL) Idrissa Traoré (MLI) Officials | Argentina 2-1 England Quarterfinal Sun 22 June (1200local) at Azteca MC |
 Batista (60') - Challenge | Fenwick (9') - Tackle |
