No, it needs a gerund. Despite the referee taking the side of the other team, we still won the game. OR Despite the fact that the referee took the side of the other team, we still won the game.

Or, you could also say, "Even though the referee took the side of the other team, we still won the game." That may be easier than using 'despite', because in this case, 'despite' needs to be followed by a participle phrase. Be careful not to confuse gerunds with participles. http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/gerundphrase.htm

i think that this better. we had won the game even though the referee took side of opposition team.

1. Even though the referee sided with the other team, we still won the game. 2. Although the referee sided with the other team, we still won the game. 3. Despite the referee having sided with the other team, we still won the game. 4. Despite the referee siding with the other team, we still won the game. 5. Despite the referee taking the side of the other team, we still won the game.

I agree with Susan612, just for fun...might I add, here in the states we would say the referee tried to "call the game". We say this if the referee "unfairly" favors one team over the other team throughout the game...but sometimes the fans accuse this because they are just poor losers haha!