Championship - No replay for 'phantom' goal match
Eurosport - Tue, 23 Sep 11:08:00 2008
The Football League have announced that the 2-2 draw between Reading and Watford which featured a 'phantom' goal will not be replayed.
Linesman Nigel Bannister flagged for a goal instead of a corner when the ball crossed the goal-line well wide of the post during a goalmouth scramble from a corner at Vicarage Road.
Referee Stuart Attwell, who became the Premier League's youngest official last month at the age of 25, awarded a goal despite not a single Reading player appealing or celebrating the 'strike', which at the time was accredited to John Eustace as an own goal.
The match finished 2-2, denying Watford all three points.
Andy Williamson, the League's chief opperating officer, said: "The Laws of the Game give no discretion in these matters - the referee's decision regarding whether a goal is scored or not is final and binding. Given this explicit position, the League cannot intervene".
On Monday, Reading boss Steve Coppell (pictured) admitted he was willing to replay the match after reviewing the evidence.
"If the authorities decide a replay is the correct thing to do then I've got no objections whatsoever.
"I'm not sure there's a precedent but if that's what people decide then I am quite happy to do it.
"We don't want to be seen to be taking advantage of anything.
"I have sympathy with Watford and I really don't know what to say to make it right.
"But if the Football League phone me now and say something was definitely wrong I'm happy to go along with it."
The decision has been roundly condemned as the worst decision seen on a football pitch, a view backed up by Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt even though he has retained some sympathy for the officials.
Hunt said: "It was a screamer! No, it was probably the worst decision I have ever witnessed.
"We can't do anything about it. It's not our mistake, but what can you do? You can't say 'no ref, it wasn't in'.
"He seemed all right. He's a young referee. But after this he'll probably be sitting at home next week. I've had him before and he's been all right.
"It was just a bad day at the office. He talks, he respects you and you respect him. I can understand Watford's frustration, but everyone makes mistakes."
Related Stories
This site is Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.
Comment 1 - 8 of 68
That decision to give a goal when it CLEARLY wasn't, the goal should be wiped out or at least a replay and the two officials should be suspended from the game for a long time why'l they are re-trained.
Howard Webb's the only decent ref left in England.
The result should stand or we could be replaying every game. eg if a player is wrongly sent off and that team loses should the game be played again?
Just because this one was so obvious does not mean it should receive special treatment.
Where is the Dubious FA vedio panel? The speed in Which they decided that John Terry did not deserve a red card. Should have been in motion by now. This goal should be erased from any records.
Ooops 2nd grrrrr. HA ha ha
First!!!!!
What A shocker the ref and linesman made. Reading should have given Watford a goal back to even things up then there would be no need to play game again.
The state of English refereeing is apauling and this is just another issue that highlights this. When are the FA going to wake up and take serious action against officials. Instead of relegating them to a lower division for a game or two, how about suspending them for a month or longer depending on the incident. In this case the linesman in question should never officiate again! Harsher punishments are needed and also more training seems to be needed.
Coppells gesture is too much like common sence fo the FA to go along with. Opponents might question the motives that iether team might secure the extra two pionts for winning a replay. OK Stewart Atwell made a mistake. Refs are not machines, they are human beings.and this will be part of his learning curve. Lets not react by sending him off too a lower division game. He should bask in being in the limelight and this notoriety, laugh at himself, and use this this as a platform to some tacky advert with someone like pizza hut.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account