You are mentioning doubtful plays in best case scenario (aside from disgusting Busquets). I have seen a bunch of important decisions waaaay worse than that, for example just in NT championships in the last 30 years:
- 1996: EC QFs... 2 legal goals disallowed against England (lost on pens).
- 1994: WC QFs... minute 90, Tassotti breaks Luis Enrique's nose in the area... Baggio scores in the counter (2-1). Tassotti was later sanctioned 8 games due to the extreme violence shown. First (and unique) time in history that FIFA did this in a WC.
- 2002: WC QFs... 2 legal goals disallowed against South Korea and a never ending list of fouls, lost on pens. Italy was blatantly robbed before too.
I could make a bigger lists of wrong decisions (for example in WC 2010 our goal against Portugal is an offside close call, Paraguay committed a clear penalty that was not sanctioned, De Jong foul to Xabi Alonso in the final, etc.), but either way are difficult to call, only "one" during the game without VAR, etc.
At least 2002 was a bribe 100%. It is impossible to happen by random. Italy suffered the same in the previous round.
However... there were no VAR. VAR is designed specifically for cases like this.
It is difficult to explain that you give a penalty without any contact in a EC semifinal. You can be doubtful about the red against Switzerland (it is too harsh to me but it is a clear and dangerous foul so the red is not out of question), but you cannot have any doubt with that penalty, sorry. It is a blatant dive.There is no doubt. It makes no sense not to overturn the decision. Imagine that there is VAR and Lampard's goal against Germany is not conceded. What would you think?
This is like comparing tennis in 1980s with some wrong decisions vs using the hawk-eye and make a wrong decision either way. It is not comparable at all.