Top Five: Goal-line controversies

Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash between Tottenham and Chelsea will be remembered for only one thing.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash between Tottenham and Chelsea will be remembered for only one thing.Pedro Mendes: Manchester United v Tottenham - Premier League, 2005 Tottenham found themselves on the wrong side of another goal-line decision when Pedro Mendes scored an audacious lobbed effort over Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll at Old Trafford.The retreating Carroll, caught off his line by the Portuguese midfielder, dived helplessly to try and claw the ball out of goal, but calamitously spilt it into the goal before palming away from danger.The linesman - who was miles out of position, due to the surprise hoof upfield - had no way of determining whether the ball was over the line. No goal was awarded, and the match finished 0-0.John Eustace own goal: Watford v Reading - Championship, 2008One of the most baffling decisions to-date, was when Reading were gifted a goal by the officials against Watford at Vicarage Road. The footage still bemuses when trying to establish how the linesman and the referee thought the ball had crossed the line.As Hornets midfielder John Eustace tussled with Royals forward Noel Hunt after a corner, the ball bounced over the byline, wide of the near post before Hunt hooked the ball back into the box.Stuart Atwell appeared to signal for a goal-kick, before giving a goal after consulting experienced assistant Nigel Bannister. The game finished 2-2 after Reading were also awarded a late penalty. Certainly a day to forget for Watford fans.Freddie Sears: Bristol City v Crystal Palace - Championship, 2009With the scoreline at 0-0, West Ham loanee Freddie Sears stuck the ball away to give Crystal Palace the lead at Ashton Gate.After wheeling away in celebration, the Eagles delight was short-lived after referee Rob Shoebridge awarded Bristol City a goal-kick, much to the dismay of visiting manager Neil Warnock.The ball actually hit the back stanchion before bouncing straight out of the goal, and was adjudged to have fallen the wrong side of the post by the referee’s assistant linesman.Clint Hill: Bolton v QPR - Premier League, 2012In last month’s relegation ‘six-pointer’ at the Reebok Stadium, QPR defender Clint Hill thought he had given his side a valuable lead when he headed in a Joey Barton cross.Trotters keeper Adam Bogdan scrambled behind his line to hook the ball out, and despite replays clearly showing the ball was in the net, assistant linesman Bob Pollock, assured referee Martin Atkinson (yes - that man again) that it had not crossed the line.The home side later took the advantage, and despite Djibril Cisse restoring parity, Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic scored a late winner to give Owen Coyle’s side all three points.Frank Lampard: England v Germany, World Cup 2010At the 2010 World Cup, in a crucial last-16 encounter, England’s hopes of progression were dashed as they were eliminated by Germany, who outplayed and outclassed the Three Lions all over the pitch, on their way to a comfortable 4-1 victory.However, with the score tentatively poised at 2-1 to Joachim Low’s side, Frank Lampard unleashed a long-range shot, which hit the crossbar and bounced down behind German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.Everyone in the stadium and watching on TV, saw that the ball had crossed the goal line, and would have drawn England level in the tie. Everyone except Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistants that is, who waved play on, much to the frustration of the England players and fans, who were left wondering what might have been.