The only season Evans was forced into an error was because if was trying to defend a cross into the penalty area against the threat of Cisse trying to score. How can anyone say Cisse was not interfering with play when if was actively engaged in a scrap with Evans? Also, the keeper has to distracted and keep an eye on the attacker standing only 4 or 5 feet from him? I can just imagine the absolute tirade of abuse the craas would have poured out with if the tables were turned and colohairbear had scored an og, not to mention their bad tempered cockney spiv manager. It's a disgraceful decision to allow the goal imo.
The rules state he was not interfering. It is ridiculous but regardless what we think, it is a legitimate goal. There are many rules regarding offside which are just way too loaded in the attackers favour. A prime example yesterday and one which is exploited regularly was Hernandez running 15 yards offside as a decoy runner, the ball is played wide and because the cross is played sideways not forward he gets a free header. I don't think that is right because the defence have played an excellent offside trap but the rules allow it to be rendered useless. This is all because the games rulemakers are obsessed with the art of football being about scoring goals. Surely good defensive play is equal as an art form to attacking beauty? I'm with Cloughie, if you are on the pitch you're interfering.
When Fergie spat his chewing gum out i thought oh no here's trouble, and they would have played till about 5.10 pm untill Man u won the game anyhow, to me a goal, i think the ref thought Cisse had touched like me from another angle, as it is great when you have about 150 cameras in the ground showing every conceable angle!. And talking about added time how much was played in our game yesterday?.
IMO no goal. If Cisse isn't there Evans doesn't need to play the ball? Evans can't assume Cisse is offside until after he's done what he can to clear it so I can't see how Cisse isn't interfering with play. Wonder what the mags would think if that was the derby and it was Fletcher stood in an offside position when someone deflects the ball in??
The referee's decision is final. That's one of the rules of the game , if you don't like the rules don't play the game. In a hundred years time the goal will still be in the record books , and maybe Fergies whinging will have died down a bit by then.
Absolutely and its high time the off side rules were back to players along the line either being off or on and no grey areas. The only change I'd make is introduce a 25 yard line before you can be offside so teams cant play on the half way line.
Ah but mate, going by that what is the point in linesmen? Oops "assistant referees" ! The linesmen gave offside legitimately (part of his job description,) as Cisse was offside and the referee over ruled him. So what is the point of linesmen?
