Over the line
June 27, 2010![Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looks at the ball that hit the bar to bounce over the line](https://static.dw.com/image/5737369_800.webp)
For some it was one of the worst refereeing decisions ever, for others it appeared to be poetic justice - a disallowed goal that clearly crossed the line.
Germany inflicted a convincing 4-1 defeat on England on Sunday, but things could have been different had the Uruguayan referee, Jorge Larrionda, or his assistant seen midfielder Frank Lampard's drive in the 38th minute.
Lampard hit the ball over German keeper - it bounced off the underside of the crossbar bar and television replays showed it landing a foot or two over the goal line before being swiftly collected by German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
"The referee's assistant should have seen it, it was clearly a goal," said former Germany team boss Franz Beckenbauer on German television.
German television commentator Guenter Netzer said "there weren't too many people in the stadium that didn't see that as a goal."
The disallowed goal in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon came as England staged a fight back after going two goals down. The trailing side had already pulled one goal back and was looking for the equalizer.
"There is a chance England could go out of the World Cup because of a terrible decision and that is totally, totally wrong," said former England striker Alan Shearer on BBC television in Britain.
"Scandal of the World Cup," said the website of Spanish daily sports newspaper Marca's website, with the sentiment echoed by Italian daily La Repubblica.
Bitter irony, sweet irony
The irony of the decision will not be lost on fans of both teams. In 1966, England were awarded a goal they should not have been under similar circumstances in the World Cup final.
Geoff Hurst scored for England during extra time in the team's home stadium Wembley with the ball hitting the crossbar and bouncing out of the goal.
Soviet linesman Tofik Bakhramov incorrectly ruled that a goal had been scored, making the score 3-2 with England winning 4-2 eventually.
Germans fans say it changed the course of the game, but that luck was not with England on Sunday.
"Wembley is back, only the reverse of 1966. Lampard smashed the ball under the bar and it landed clearly behind the goal line," said the website of German news magazine Der Spiegel.
The incident follows repeated calls for the use of goal line technology, including sensors to detect when a goal has been scored. International soccer governing body FIFA has consistently refused.
"We want to keep football as a game of the people with a human face, so we don't want technology on the field of play because we want to maintain the spontaneity of football - played, administered and controlled by human beings," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said ahead of the tournament.
Author: Richard Connor (dpa/AFP)
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar