IF what Leroy Fer has said on his interview, the ref might, just might be in a little bit of pooh. According to Leroy, the ref gave the go ahead to play on from the throw in............then changed his mind when the ball hit the net. I think there is going to be lots of talk about this (not as much as it would if it was Man Utd though), and will be interesting to see if the ref is demoted to the Championship or below. Not saying I would want us to win like that, but I would have taken it all the same, as it was in within the rules of the game.
If as Fer says he was given the go ahead then the goal should stand. However I feel the ref used a bit of common sense and should actually be congratulated even if it was not to the letter of the law. It would of been very unsporting so fair play to the ref
If memory serves me didn't the FA allow Sheffield Utd to replay an FA Cup game a few years back when Arsenal scored a goal like that?
The whistle blow and arm gesture to resume play gave away the fact the he was happy for the throw in to proceed.
I think you may well be right, but that is off the back of lots of Leo This one is going to rumble, of that I am sure
Not so sure it will cause much of a stir, BBC and SkySports are more interested in United winning at Old Trafford.
Thai would you honestly be delighted to win a game in that manner? I suspect deep down you wouldn't and if it had of been awarded agains your team you would have been livid! Justice was done and common sense for once prevailed.
People often criticise refs for not using common sense. He has so fair play to him and no one wants to win a game in that manner.
It doesn't matter, the referee broke the law of the game. We cannot pick and choose when they can get it right or wrong, they MUST be right every time.
Not saying I would be delighted, but would I take it if it had been allowed? Yes I would have, and so would you if you are being entirely honest. There reason being, the PL is massive money, and two points could be the difference between a fortune and a relative pittance the following season. Such decisions can make or break a football club, and if the decision is wrong and within the rules of the game, then it has to be a problem of one sort or another.
You are right we can't pick and choose the rules when they suit. But he did the right thing in this situation using common sense. No its not a written rule but it was a sensible decision and maintains some integrity in the game. Cardiff put the ball out for our player which is sporting play, if that stopped in the game because goals such as Fers are scored then it would be a sad day for football.
Another curiosity to throw into the mix, apparently there was a rule clarification a couple of years back: If that's the case, then Fer didn't really need to give the ball back at all, and there's no basis to rule the goal out on (if Fer's comments are accurate). Hardly sporting, and I'm glad we didn't win that way, but more evidence that it should have stood.
Malky said Hughton had indicated that if it was given, we'd have let them walk one in. So the result isn't really in question, if it had stood the game would have just ended 1-1. The question is however was there actually any reason not to give the goal, the answer is probably not, there are no rules governing sportsmanship.
Hypothetical I know, but I would put this to any football fan. You team scores under the same circumstances, in the 94th minute of the game, on the last day of the season. If you win, you stay up, if you draw or lose, you go down. Still in favour of common sense??
Morally it was a nice decision but my point is from the rule book, the referee committed an illegal act of disallowing a legitimate goal for reasons he knew were illegal. So his unlawful action was deliberate. This is where I am coming from. Yes Fer didn't show sportsmanship but we cannot support a referee for disallowing the goal because that was a deliberate contravention of the rules. He should receive a ban for the way he handled it only because it was a serious breach.
Good to see that from Hughton. Would have been funny though if the ref gave it, Hughton says that to Malky, and then the ref blows for full-time before they've had a chance.
