FOLLOWING LAST TUESDAY’S game between England and Ukraine, in which Roy Hodgson’s men were the beneficiaries of poor officiating whereby a perfectly legitimate goal was wrongly ruled out, as the ball was adjudged not to have crossed the goal-line, here’s some more reasons why the requisite technology must surely be introduced as soon as possible.
1. Geoff Hurst v West Germany, 1966 World Cup final
YouTube credit: 16nine
Of course, officiating errors are by no means a modern phenomenon. England won the World Cup in 1966 with a little help from a goal that has since been proven to have not crossed the line. 46 years later and goal-line technology still hasn’t been introduced.
2. Frank Lampard v Germany, 2010 World Cup second round
YouTube credit: joegrimjow
Just in case last Tuesday’s incident and the aforementioned 1966 goal have you convinced that the continuing absence of goal-line technology from football is part of some sort of conspiracy to help the English national side prevail at major tournaments, above is an incident in which they were the victims rather than the beneficiaries of an incorrect decision.
3. Joe Sheridan v Louth, 2010 Leinster final
YouTube credit: KilkennyFootball
Soccer isn’t the only sport that suffers from goals that shouldn’t have been. Despite Sheridan carrying the ball over the line in the incident above, the referee ignored the infringement and awarded the goal, breaking Louth hearts in the process, and helping Meath triumph in the Leinster final.
4. Pedro Mendes v Man United, 2005 Premier League
YouTube credit: Delikanli76
This 2005 Man United-Tottenham clash looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw when Pedro Mendes attempted a speculative lob over Roy Carroll, with the goalkeeper subsequently fumbling the ball over the line – an incident which everyone in the stadium bar the officials seemed to notice, as the referee controversially chose to wave play on.
5 Juan Mata v Tottenham, 2012 FA Cup semi-final
YouTube credit: FreeKickSpecialists
Poor old Tottenham were the victims once again in a reverse incident to the Mendes effort years before. This time, the ‘goal’ was awarded despite the ball not crossing the line, consequently helping Roberto Di Matteo’s side progress to the final in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.
6. The MLS incidents
YouTube credit: mls
It is not just a select few high-profile games where controversial goals are scored or ruled out. Similar incidents often occur in leagues all over the world, as the clips above from the MLS attest.
7. Andy Carroll v Chelsea FA Cup final 2012
YouTube credit: TheComedy4cast
Remarkably, for the second consecutive round, a contentious incident that would have been aided by the presence of goal-line technology was ultimately given in Chelsea’s favour. Replays at the time seemed to indicate the whole of the ball had not crossed the line and that the officials got the decision right, though the clip above suggests otherwise.
