Former FIFA referee Keith Hackett was stunned by the goal-line technology error that earned Aston Villa a point against Sheffield United on Wednesday.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Kelham Hilton, the ex-Premier League official, who helped set up the goal checking system, was baffled as to why the referee’s assistant or VAR did not flag the mistake to Michael Oliver.
A deep in-swinging free kick from United’s Oliver Norwood resulted in Villa keeper Orjan Nyland carrying the ball back into his own side-netting.
Hawk-Eye statement on the goal line incident during Aston Villa v Sheffield match this evening. pic.twitter.com/I2u5lqKMqe
— Hawk-Eye Innovations (@Hawkeye_view) June 17, 2020
However, on-field referee Michael Oliver did not give the goal after the GDS failed to alert him.
VAR was in operation and could have overruled the decision but the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have refused to use VAR to review such incidents.
When asked by Football Insider for his analysis of the incident, Hackett said: “When I was watching TV I saw the goal was over the line.
“Having been the guy who instigated goal-line technology many years ago, I know it inside out.
“When the signal to the referee’s watch didn’t come I was really amazed.
“Then I’m looking across and I’m thinking where is the assistant referee? He’s in a good position, why is he not signalling? He’s probably operating on a criteria which says you don’t interfere with goal-line technology but he should indicate to the referee that something is wrong.
“Then I’m thinking is the VAR going to come in? There is then another back up system in VAR. The protocol of VAR is that goal decisions are part of the process that VAR should get involved but again they didn’t.”
The decision could have huge implications on both ends of the table.
Villa moved a point closer to safety while Sheffield United missed out on two points that would have strengthened their European claims.
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By: Dylan Childs
Title: Aston Villa news: Ex-FIFA referee baffled by officiating after ghost goal
Sourced From: www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-keith-hackett-points-the-finger-at-one-man-for-aston-villa-sheffield-united-ghost-goal/
Published Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:48:29 +0000
