OFFER: Steve Coppell
Tuesday September 23,2008
WATFORD will not get the opportunity to replay their
match against Reading but want ‘phantom goal’ assistant referee
Nigel Bannister punished.
Bannister is still
sweating over his Football League future after the Professional
Game Match Officials board last night confirmed they will talk to
him and referee Stuart Attwell. It was Bannister who flagged for a
goal, when the ball had actually bobbled out of play wide of the
post.
According to the PGMO,
25-year-old Attwell was only guilty of taking his advice.
Watford manager Aidy
Boothroyd yesterday spoke with PGMO chief Keith Hackett and
demanded action be taken.
A PGMO statement read:
“According to the laws of the game, the decision of the referee
regarding facts connected with play are final and that includes
whether a goal is scored. The referee cannot change that decision
once the game has been restarted.
“Football is a human
game played at a fast pace where mistakes are made by players and
match officials alike. We regret this error of judgment and will
now work with the officials concerned to determine how this
occurred in an attempt to minimise such mistakes in the
future.”
Reading manager Steve
Coppell claimed yesterday he would have “no objections if the
authorities decide a replay is the correct thing”.
But League chief
operating officer Andy Williamson 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.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edj4wBwePLU&feature=related