I’m gonna come right out and contradict myself here but that was such a mistake by the referee and the linesman last night. Pictures and reports tell one story but watching the match in its entirety, like I did, bring light to the subject. I was actually a more difficult call than the pictures show, Mendes shot from 40 yards out whilst Carrol was on the trace back, the linesman had to be in line with him and so he’s basing his view of the goal from 40 yards out – if he’s not sure he can’t call it. Granted it was a huge mistake, the photographs don’t seem to give him any credit. The referee was just as bad and really depended on the linesman Ray Lewis to make the decision.
All in all it was a disastrous catch for the keeper and a horrible mistake by the referee, no doubt about it. These decisions however come and go; sometimes you’re on the receiving end of it (i.e. The Porto match Mudda was referring to) or like last night, sometimes you tend to get away with it.