Reading manager Steve Coppell has renewed the campaign for video technology after a blunder by a linesman awarded his team a phantom goal.
Coppell was as puzzled as Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd, the players and the fans when the officials awarded Reading a goal after the ball clearly went wide in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road in
the League Championship, England’s second-tier league.
While they were waiting to see whether the officials would give either a corner or a goal kick, they were amazed when referee Stuart Atwell gave a goal to Reading after receiving a signal from his linesman.
”I was in the stand at the time and I haven’t seen it since. But when the whistle went I wondered what it was for as I couldn’t see a
foul,” Coppell said.
”Everyone trooped back to the centre and then it became obvious that the referee had given the goal. But after speaking to Noel [Hunt] after the game it became clear that the ball went out of play wide of the goal.”
Coppell said the incidents strengthened the argument for the introduction of cameras and goalline technology to help officials decide whether the ball had gone into the net and crossed the goalline.
”The game is crying out for video evidence and it has been for a long time,” the former Manchester United and England winger said. ”It’s obvious. Rugby League puts us to shame with how referees can call for replays.”
But he dismissed the suggestion that, after realising the officials’ blunder, Reading should have then let Watford equalise.
”Let’s get this clear. The responsibility is not with the opposition to right a wrong,” he said. ”It is up to the officials to get it as right as they can.”
Boothroyd said it appeared the mistake was by the linesman rather than the referee.
”I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like a UFO landing, a mistake like that,” he said. ”I’ve been to see the referee and, in fairness, he’s only going on what the linesman says. He’s working in a team and if someone comes in his ear telling him it’s a goal then I
suppose he’s got to give it.” – Sapa-AP