Over the years the scenarios in the You are the Ref cartoon have become more bizarre and Keith Hackett's judgements more shaky. This Sunday's piece in The Observer newspaper is, however, something that might well happen but, in my view, the response is bonkers.
The scenario: Defending team make a substitution just before a corner. Ref blows whistle before defender is in position and goal is scored. Cue uproar from defenders - what to do?
KH's answer: Although there is nothing wrong in law the goal should be disallowed as the ref has made a mistake!
I can see that the ref might not be popular with the defence and that it generally accepted that subs are allowed to get into position but , as KH acknowledges, in law the ref has done nothing wrong and so on what grounds can he possibly disallow the goal?
The scenario: Defending team make a substitution just before a corner. Ref blows whistle before defender is in position and goal is scored. Cue uproar from defenders - what to do?
KH's answer: Although there is nothing wrong in law the goal should be disallowed as the ref has made a mistake!
I can see that the ref might not be popular with the defence and that it generally accepted that subs are allowed to get into position but , as KH acknowledges, in law the ref has done nothing wrong and so on what grounds can he possibly disallow the goal?