Webb's matches to remember ... or forget

Howard Webb, who called time on 25 years of refereeing this week, has been embroiled in a number of controversies in his long and distinguished career. We take a look at eight flashpoints:

Premier League, February 2009: Manchester United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

A real aberration for a referee of Webb's quality: he atones for one mistake by making another. After realising he should not have awarded United a corner he rules out Jonny Evans's resulting headed goal for a foul no-one in the stadium or watching on television can see.

Premier League, April 2009: Manchester United 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Webb awards a penalty to United, with the score 2-0 to Spurs, except away goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made no contact with United's Michael Carrick. The controversial goal is a catalyst for United to run out victors. Webb later admits his "honest mistake".

Champions League final, May 2010: Bayern Munich 0-2 Inter Milan

Webb earns the chance to oversee Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan against Louis van Gaal's Bayern in the Champions League final. The Yorkshireman gives a fine, aka forgettable, performance, though the result may have turned out differently had he given a card to Inter centre-back Walter Samuel in the third minute for scything down Arjen Robben.

World Cup final, July 2010: Spain 1-0 Holland

The biggest moment in Webb's career comes in 2010, but the World Cup final in South Africa will be remembered for Holland trying to kick Spain and their tiki-taka football off the park. Webb's hopes of letting the game flow are doomed by Holland's brutality. He shows 14 yellow cards and a red, but the enduring image of the match is Nigel de Jong's kung-fu kick to Xabi Alonso's chest - for which Webb awards only a booking.

Premier League, January 2011: Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool

The game that gives rise to the internet-fuelled (and erroneous - the statistics prove it so) theory that Webb is biased towards United. After giving a penalty to the home side in the first minute for a slight touch on Dimitar Berbatov, Webb later sends off Steven Gerrard for a two-footed challenge on Michael Carrick. Liverpool's Ryan Babel tweets a mocked-up picture of Webb in a United shirt and an internet legend is born.

Premier League, January 2014: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester United

Webb fails to award a potentially game-saving penalty to Manchester United in the 87th minute after Tottenham's Hugo Lloris cleans out Ashley Young with the score at 2-1.

FA Cup, February 2014: Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

Webb is widely criticised for his performance in overseeing Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup victory over Liverpool, whose Luis Suarez was denied a blatant penalty. Only days later he is hastily removed from a celebrity website advertising his services as a £4,000-a-night after-dinner speaker, amid claims he is losing his focus on the pitch.

World Cup round of 16, June 2014: Brazil 1-1 Chile (Brazil win 3-2 on penalties)

The referee becomes the most unpopular man in Brazil by controversially disallowing a goal by Hulk that would have given the hosts a 2-1 lead. On the advice of his assistant, Mike Mullarkey, Webb ruled that Hulk controlled the ball with his upper arm, a decision that provoked furious scenes in the stands, but which, replays showed, was correctly made under severe pressure. - ©The Daily Telegraph, London