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This is one of football's most controversial refereeing moments. At the 1978 World Cup, with the score at 1-1 and Brazil taking a corner in the final seconds, referee Clive Thomas blew his whistle for full time while the ball was still in the air — and Brazil's header went into the net moments later. Under the IFAB Laws of the Game (Law 7, Duration of the Match), a referee cannot end a match while the ball is actively in play. The corner was live, the ball was airborne, no infringement had occurred, and play had not naturally stopped. Thomas's decision to blow for time mid-flight was simply wrong: the goal should have counted, meaning Brazil — the affected team — were denied a 2-1 winning goal. Sweden benefited from the decision and the match finished 1-1. This decision is widely recognised, including by football authorities, as an incorrect application of the Laws, and it remains one of the most debated refereeing errors in World Cup history.
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