I thought I was watching an afternoon of carefree football, no pressure or heart attacks, watching Chelsea and Southampton.
Chelsea score, nothing new there then, Southhampton get a corner. Charlie Austin goes against the keeper and the Chelsea keeper juggles it and pulls the ball from inside the goal. It is over the line though. "Goal", I thought. "No" says Martin Atkinson, the game flows on. No blood pressure problems so far.
BT then highlight that it was the merest contact by Austin, game goes on. End of game, analysis begins, and so does my blood pressure.
Graham Poll "explains" Southampton's goal couldn't stand because : "when the goalie goes up you cannot make contact with him". Stevie Gerrard among the others said that's what happens and this was not the proper application of the rule. "Its the law", said Poll.
Why get angry, you ask, well down the years, even yesterday Liverpool goalies were routinely made contact with!
The one that brings to mind, was against West Ham under Rodgers. Mignolet is fouled by Andy Carroll but Anthony Taylor overruled the linesman and signalled a goal. Poll, himself has let a few go like that.
The law itself, if I am correct and you can agree or disagree:
"A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with the hands".
Check the incident out yourself, where does the goal have control of the ball?
Any thoughts or comments?
