Accrington Web - When is a goal not a goal????

FA explain "Goal" decision
>

> An FA spokesman after the game absolved the linesman of any

> responsibility for the apparently mistaken decision not to award a

> goal to Spurs after a shot from the halfway line crossed the goal

> line by at least a meter.

>

> "The shot came in from an unusual distance and as such caught the

> linesman out of position forcing him to race back towards the goal

> as the play developed", explained the spokesman, "As he ran, the

> United scarf he was wearing under his shirt came loose and fluttered

> up into his face obscuring his view and preventing him from making

> the call. It was just one of those things."

>

> In response to further questions from the Press the spokesman

> explained "If they don't already have a United tattoo most officials

> on game day try to wear a scarf or a replica shirt under their

> regulation kit to show their support for the worlds greatest club.

> The linesman in this case had chosen to wear a United scarf, a

> common choice that is in keeping with FA guidelines. The root cause

> of the problem lies not with the linesman but with the players and

> management of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club who broke one the most

> important unwritten rules of the English FA: They placed a shot on

> target at Old Trafford. Martin Jol is new to this country and

> perhaps he s not yet familiar with some of our finer traditions.

> Fortunately if he doesn't yet understand that for the greater good

> of the game visiting teams, by tradition, are not expected to try to

> score at Old Trafford then our officials are in a position to help

> Mr Jol make that cultural adjustment."

>

> Chuckling to himself the FA spokesman added "The goal had to be

> disallowed to avoid us descending down a slippery slope that would

> be bad for the national game. It's a fine line the officials have to

> walk. If they award a goal this week, next week someone might expect

> a penalty or ask that Van Nistlerooy be booked for diving. Can you

> imagine? That would just never do. No no no. Shocking, just the

> thought of it."