Goal that never was could decide Serie A title
Reuters - Sunday 26 February 2012, 00:20
This season's Serie A title
race could ultimately be decided by the goal that never was
during Saturday's top-of-the-table clash between AC Milan and
Juventus.
AC Milan's Sulley Muntari was already celebrating after
heading the ball over the line, oblivious to the fact that
officials had waved play on even though replays showed the ball
was a good metre inside the goal.
Had the goal counted, AC Milan would have gone 2-0 ahead at
a point where they were dominating the game and there might well
have been no way back for a ragged Juventus.
Instead, Juve regrouped to force a 1-1 draw and in doing so
provided another boost for the case in favour of goal-line
technology, currently being tested by football's governing body
FIFA.
Juventus stayed one point behind Serie A leaders Milan with
a game in hand, whereas a defeat would have left them four
points adrift with the psychological blow of having lost their
unbeaten record this season.
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was typically
philosophical about the incident.
"The best thing would be not to talk and to stay quiet,
divine justice can punish everyone for what they say," he said.
"If it had been 2-0, the game would have been well under
control especially as we were on top.
"Maybe they painted the goal line took thick," he added.
Players from both sides agreed that the ball was in,
including Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
"I wasn't aware at the time of my position or of Muntari's
shot. Afterwards, I saw in the pictures that the ball had gone
in," he said.
"But I must be frank and say that if I had realised, I would
not have helped the referee."
Juventus also pointed out that they had a goal harshly
disallowed just before their equaliser.
"There were refereeing mistakes today, one for their goal
when the ball went in, and then when we had a goal disallowed
for offside," said coach Antonio Conte.
"The best thing has been the match. As for the rest,
everyone has to improve, including myself."