BASEL - Netherlands' controversial first goal in Monday's 3-0 Group C victory over world champions Italy at Euro 2008 was correctly awarded despite many observers believing it was offside, organisers UEFA said yesterday.
BASEL - Netherlands' controversial first goal in Monday's 3-0 Group C victory over world champions Italy at Euro 2008 was correctly awarded despite many observers believing it was offside, organisers UEFA said yesterday.
UEFA general secretary David Taylor told a news conference the officials correctly interpreted Law 11 which relates to offside when Ruud van Nistelrooy scored after 26 minutes.
He stated that Christian Panucci played him onside though the Italian defender was off the pitch at the time.
"The goal was correctly awarded. Not many people, even in the game, and I include the players, know this interpretation [of Law 11]," Taylor said.
He conceded, however, that "the law itself does not deal with this situation directly at all", but said that referees universally interpreted it in the way that the officials did on Monday night.
He said he had every sympathy with the wider footballing public for believing the officials called it wrong but said that Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt and his assistant Stefan Wittberg were absolutely correct in their interpretation.
Taylor told reporters: "Even though the Italian defender [Panucci] was off the field because of his momentum, he is still deemed to be part of the game and is therefore taken into consideration as one of the last two defending players.
"As a result Ruud van Nistelrooy was not nearer the opponents' goal line than the second last defender and therefore could not be in an offside position.
"This is a widely known interpretation of the offside law among referees but is not generally known by the wider footballing public and indeed many people in football," he said.
"That is understandable because incidents like this are very unusual.
"However, there was a similar incident in a Swiss League match about a month ago between Sion and FC Basel." - Reuters
good call, ref
BASEL - Netherlands' controversial first goal in Monday's 3-0 Group C victory over world champions Italy at Euro 2008 was correctly awarded despite many observers believing it was offside, organisers UEFA said yesterday.
BASEL - Netherlands' controversial first goal in Monday's 3-0 Group C victory over world champions Italy at Euro 2008 was correctly awarded despite many observers believing it was offside, organisers UEFA said yesterday.
UEFA general secretary David Taylor told a news conference the officials correctly interpreted Law 11 which relates to offside when Ruud van Nistelrooy scored after 26 minutes.
He stated that Christian Panucci played him onside though the Italian defender was off the pitch at the time.
"The goal was correctly awarded. Not many people, even in the game, and I include the players, know this interpretation [of Law 11]," Taylor said.
He conceded, however, that "the law itself does not deal with this situation directly at all", but said that referees universally interpreted it in the way that the officials did on Monday night.
He said he had every sympathy with the wider footballing public for believing the officials called it wrong but said that Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt and his assistant Stefan Wittberg were absolutely correct in their interpretation.
Taylor told reporters: "Even though the Italian defender [Panucci] was off the field because of his momentum, he is still deemed to be part of the game and is therefore taken into consideration as one of the last two defending players.
"As a result Ruud van Nistelrooy was not nearer the opponents' goal line than the second last defender and therefore could not be in an offside position.
"This is a widely known interpretation of the offside law among referees but is not generally known by the wider footballing public and indeed many people in football," he said.
"That is understandable because incidents like this are very unusual.
"However, there was a similar incident in a Swiss League match about a month ago between Sion and FC Basel." - Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos