Liverpool's Christian Benteke should not have been awarded the winning goal in the match against Bournemouth on Monday, the Premier League has admitted.
The Belgian striker opened his account at Anfield with a goal that would have been perfectly legitimate last season, but this season should have been disallowed for offside. Benteke's close-range goal was allowed to stand by referee Craig Pawson despite team-mate Philippe Coutinho having been stood in an offside position and attempting to play the ball.
And in a highly-unusual move, the League has stated unequivocally that the match officials got the decision wrong. The League is writing to all the clubs to clarify the new ruling - and presumably also to the referees and linesmen who are clearly not yet up to speed with the new regulation.
While the goal would have stood last season, a change ratified by the IFAB over the summer amended the offside rule. Players can now be offside even if not directly involved in a move, deemed to be interfering with play via their positioning on the field, by distracting or diverting opponents.
HOWE'S HOWLS
Speaking before the League's admission, Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was demanding answers.
"It is a tough job, we know that. The officials have a split second to make a decision so I respect that and the challenge that their job brings," he said.
"From our perspective we felt we were on the wrong end of not just the two big decisions in the game but there were several other little things that went against us."
"[I'm] definitely keen to have a conversation and see their perspective. From my perspective, regarding that law, that is the clearest case of that interpretation that's been changed that you'll see."
"And the fact that hasn't been seen is a huge worry. I'm baffled by it and I was baffled by it at the time."
"I had a really poor view at ground level, [but] I just knew there was something not quite right about the goal, and obviously it proved when I saw the replays. I'm just really surprised it was missed."
-
Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @Joy997FM. Our hashtag is #JoySports
Latest Stories
-
Support us to demand better conditions of service – TEWU OF TUC tells members
10 mins -
CAFCC: Dreams FC holds dinner to honour players for reaching the semi-finals
13 mins -
200 students selected for KNUST e-learning ambassador training
19 mins -
KNUST gets its first virtual reality studios to boost teaching and learning
27 mins -
Don’t short-change labour under the guise of global economic recession – ICU-Ghana to government
33 mins -
We must guard against employers who want to short change us – ICU tells members
46 mins -
Dreams FC proved Ghanaian clubs can win CAF inter-club trophies – Ameenu Shardow
58 mins -
Naana Jane’s renomination shows NDC’s commitment to gender inclusivity – Kwabena Duffuor
1 hour -
Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp up for Crystal Palace Goal of the Season award
1 hour -
Deputy Director of Health Services calls for stakeholder support to ensure child health and vaccination success
2 hours -
Kwame Sowu: The Perils of Posting Before Thinking: A call to re-evaluate our Social Media Habits
2 hours -
Unfortunate ‘dumsor’ era won’t return under my presidency – Akufo-Addo to Ghanaians
2 hours -
Medeama’s TnA Stadium nears commissioning after latest update
2 hours -
Fighting Malaria: Volta Region achieves 98% target in treated net distribution
3 hours -
You have a special role in shaping our elections – Akufo-Addo to Ghanaian workers
3 hours