Ref to escape penalty?

I talked at length yesterday about the amazing decision by referee Stuart Atwell to give a goal against my beloved Watford for Reading when the ball actually went three yards wide of the goal! It has been announced that the decision will be reviewed by the Professional Game Match Officials Board.

Assistant referee Nigel Bannister advised referee Stuart Atwell to award a goal, despite the ball going three yards wide of the goal and Atwell took his word for it despite seeing the incident with his own eyes.

PGMOA assistant referee’s manager Paul Rejer told the Watford club website: “It appears a mistake has been made. It will be reviewed by us. If it is a serious error, he will regret it.”

Tough words! Good, he’s going to get into trouble.

However, he continued: “It was the assistant referee who gave the goal and from his position and angle it appeared the ball had crossed the line for a goal. He has made a human error. The referee has no way of knowing for definite; he was relying on his assistant referee to make that decision. Performances by referees and assistant referees are reviewed after every game, both on the day and by DVD.”

I’m sorry. ‘No way the referee can know for definite?!’ Nearly eighteen thousand people saw that it went wide, where was the bloody referee?? Of course he should have seen!

According to the Daily Mail, they say that Atwell will escape severe punishment. I am speechless!

(Source – BBC and Daily Mail)