Leeds United vs Middlesbrough

[Brian Hamilton]

AR haring it down the touchline, Boro winger manages to cut the ball back, AR who is probably 3 yards off the goal line, raises his flag to indicate the ball has gone out of play. The ball continues its flight into the Leeds penalty area where Rhodes rises majestically like a salmon and nods it into the goal.

SKY make a fuss saying it was still in and mentioning "whole of the ball" almost with a knowing wink to camera (well not quite but you get the jist, maybe it was just Peter Beagrie with something in his eye) but their frozen replay is a split second before the forward motion of the ball is stopped by the Boro attacker by him cutting it back towards the penalty area. The ball visibly twitches forward a good 3-4 inches before it begins to rise and move back towards the goal area.

I was happy it was disallowed as it meant Leeds continue their inexorable rise towards mid table mediocrity. Exciting game, well refereed by Craig Pawson.

 

[Peter Grove]

It was actually a Boro defender (right-back Emilio Nsue) who crossed the ball but apart from that, good description. I've only seen the Sky sports video highlights and while the freeze frame is indeed a split second before the actual cross, that freeze frame puts the ball squarely on the line so moving it forward "3-4 inches" would still not have put it completely over the line, given the diameter of the ball is between 8.5 and 8.9 inches.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should mention that I am a life-long Boro fan but also that I am not convinced one way or the other. Equally however, I am convinced that the AR could not possibly have been 100% sure it was out, given his position (not directly in line with the ball/line).

 

[OIREF!]

Watching the game in real time I called the ball out. TV "evidence" suggests that the whole ball was not over the line but, as Brian suggests, this depends on exactly where/when the footage is frozen.