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Soccer match will replay final 18 seconds after referee error

By Kris Whelan

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England’s U/19 women’s soccer team will get a chance to replay the final seconds of a game following a referee error

One of the strangest of scenarios to happen in sports is taking place in the world of women’s soccer. Referee’s often make mistakes in every sport known to man, it’s part of the drama and what helps make sports so entertaining.. A recent error in a U19 women’s soccer game, however, is so catastrophically bad the powers that be have decided the game must be replayed — sort of.

The England Women’s U/19 team were in a European qualifying game against Norway when they found themselves 2-0 down. They managed to pull a goal back through substitute Rosella Ayane, and it was an incredible eight minutes later when the English were awarded a penalty which could have equalized the game.

View image | gettyimages.com

Here’s where a mistake of monumental proportions comes in from German official Marija Kurtes, in part thanks to her assistant referee. The English players standing behind the penalty taker were deemed to have impeded the box before the ball was kicked, that’s a no-no in regards of soccer rules. However, a bigger no-no was yet to come as the referee astonishingly awarded a free kick out.

The correct call would be to retake the penalty, which is something everyone and their mother would know if they’ve ever even watched a soccer game. With only seconds remaining in the game you can imagine how upset the young ladies must have been. It really was a massive mistake, so much so that the governing bodies have insisted that the final stage of the game be replayed on Thursday evening.

What does that mean?

  • The match officials, stewards, coaching staff and players will have to be there.
  • The exact same 11 players from each team that finished the game, must be on the pitch when it re starts.
  • The game is expected to last a total of 18 seconds.
  • If England score the penalty they will earn a draw and gain a point, where as Norway will lose two.

This is such a rare and odd occasion that it begs the question; “What if other sporting events were given this treatment?”

  1. The 1986 World Cup Quarter Final due to Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ incident.
  2. The France v Ireland 2010 World Cup Qualifier due to Thierry Henry’s handball.
  3. NFC Divisional championship game due to Dez Bryant’s infamous catch.
  4. 2015 National Championship game due to the out of bounds missed call.

It certainly sparks an interesting debate and sets a strange precedent, but I dare say a mistake as big as this will be avoided like the plague by referees from here on out.

[H/T SkySports]

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