Governing body believe referee’s decision is final

FIFA are to insist that referees can only rescind their decisions in a case of mistaken identity.

Thes new directives clash with the FA’s new disciplinary code, which allows match officials to review their decision within 48 hours of a match. This has already seen a number of cards rescinded with the most high-profile being Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Ricardo Fuller (Portsmouth) who were originally booked for diving.

FIFA’s communications director Markus Siegler explains:

“We know the FA have revised their disciplinary regulations but it is clear in the laws of the game that a referee cannot take back a decision once he has restarted the game. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided he has not restarted play.”

The FA’s stance is the belief that video evidence should be used to reach a correct decision.

This has drawn a strong response from FIFA president Sepp Blatter:

“A referee’s decision has no space for speculation. If people start casting doubt on the referee, they start casting doubt on football.”

New owners for Rotherham

Championship strugglers Rotherham United have unveiled the new owners of the club.

Long-serving chairman Ken Booth has agreed terms to sell his majority shareholding to local businessmen Mike Worthington and Darren Millington.

Their company, Earth Mortgages, has seen spectacular growth since it was established two years ago. It has a turnover of over £12million and employs nearly 250 people in the town.

At yesterday’s press conference, 46-year-old Worthington said:

“We are a local business whose success is based on the skills and commitment of local people. We believe that responsible companies return that commitment by becoming involved in the things that are important to local communities; that’s why Earth Mortgages is now in its second year as shirt sponsor of Rotherham United and has raised over £100,000 in the last 12 months for local and national charities.”

Earth Mortgages are already a major player in South Yorkshire football. Their sponsorship deal with Doncaster Rovers saw their Belle Vue ground re-named the Earth Stadium in May.

As Earth Mortgages have no involvement in the management of the League One club, it will not affect their takeover at Millmoor which is due to be completed on 1 November.

FOOTNOTE: It should be noted that the takeover collapsed on 29 October.

Trip to Baku revives memories

Ever since a famous sun-kissed day in July 1966, any doubts about a goal-bound effort crossing the line has drawn reference to ‘the Russian linesman’.

That, of course, refers to England’s infamous third goal in the 1966 World Cup Final against West Germany when Sir Geoff Hurst’s shot bounced down off the bar and was controversially adjudged to have crossed the goal-line by the Russian official.

England’s first-ever trip to Europe’s most-easterly footballing outpost of the newly independent Azerbaijan will revive memories of this controversial goal as the World Cup qualifier in Baku will take place at the Tofiq Bakhramov Stadium - named after the iconic linesman who raised his flag in favour of England.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, reporter Simon Hart explains the significance:

“In a country that received its independence a mere 13 years ago and which, on the football field, has yet to produce a player worthy of deification, he is honoured for his achievement in rising through the refereeing ranks to become the most respected official in the former Soviet Union and arguably one of the best in the world. He returned to World Cup duty in Mexico in 1970, this time brandishing a whistle rather than a flag. It is ironic that, having done so much for Azerbaijani self-esteem, Bakhramov should still be popularly known in England as “the Russian linesman. His son hopes the publicity surrounding this week’s statue unveiling ceremony will finally put the record straight: ‘In 1966 it was the USSR and people confused the country with Russia,’ he said. ‘We want all the world to know that he was Azeri, and not just from the Soviet Union’.”

38 years later, and shortly before England kick-off on Wednesday, Sepp Blatter - the FIFA president - will unveil a statue of him.

Among the guests invited to pay their respects will be at least one very grateful Englishman… Sir Geoff Hurst.

FIFA credit Chelsea midfielder

England’s first goal in their 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Wales at Old Trafford on Saturday has been officially awarded to Frank Lampard.

The Chelsea midfielder’s fourth-minute strike was diverted past Welsh goalkeeper Paul Jones by an inadvertent deflection from Michael Owen’s heel.

In his post-match interviews, the Real Madrid striker was adamant that he should be credited with the vital opener:

“Frank is standing by me so I don’t want an argument but initially I thought it just hit me and went more or less in the same path. Having seen it again it has taken quite a big deflection. Inevitably when you’ve gone a while without a goal you get one off your backside, you are looking for one to go your way.”

The Football Association asked FIFA to make a final adjudication and later reported:

“FIFA asked the referee and their official match delegate to review a video of the goal and they have awarded it to Lampard. They decided the ball had hit Owen rather than him getting a deliberate touch on Lampard’s shot.”

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