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13 minutes into the Championship game between Reading and Watford on the 20th of September 2008, Stephen Hunt swung in a corner, which hit Eustace on the thighs. Noel Hunt scampered after the loose ball, attempting, unsuccessfully, to cut it back from the byline before it bobbled out of play wide of the goal. Bannister raised his flag, Attwell pointed to the six-yard line, and the teams jogged away to arrange themselves for a goal-kick.
But the 22 players, Attwell and the 14,761 spectators inside the ground had failed to understand Bannister's signal. A brief conversation ensued between referee and assistant and, to the astonishment of all, a goal was awarded, Bannister believing the ball to have been inside the post rather than two yards outside. It was not so much an advert for the introduction of goalline technology as a rousing endorsement for regular eye tests.
"Everyone could see what happened," said Eustace, who was credited with the first own-goal of his career. "It's a bit embarrassing. We thought he'd given a goal-kick and then it was a goal. It's ridiculous." Everyone was amazed by the decision."
What a big BOO-BOO! the ball beyond the line Outside of the goalmouth was credited to be a GOAL by a 'blind' referee! This is amazingly disgusting.......
The 25-year-old Attwell is the youngest ever Premier League referee this season and the Professional Game Match Officials board (PGMO) was quick to leap to the the defence of their young charge. "The referee has got no way of knowing for definite at the particular time whether the ball has crossed the line for a goal," said Paul Rejer, the assistant referees manager at the game. "He's relying on his assistant to make that decision." That, though, does not excuse Attwell's failure to believe the evidence of his own eyes.
In addition, Reading also failed to cover themselves in glory. There was an opportunity in the immediate aftermath of the phantom goal to inform the officials of their mistake, or to allow an equaliser after the restart. The failure to do so, or to show contrition after the game, was unsurprising evidence of the win-at-all-costs attitude that prevails in the game.
Crazy Football getting crazier. Hahahaa.....
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