Premier League Officials to investigate first goal against C

Premier League officials to investigate role of Samuel Eto'o in Chelsea's first goal against Cardiff City
21 Oct 2013

Jose Mourinho’s men drew level in controversial fashion when striker Samuel Eto’o kicked the ball away from David Marshall as the Cardiff goalkeeper bounced it.


Officials at the Premier League will begin an investigation into Eden Hazard's controversial first goal in Cardiff City’s clash with Chelsea to see what lessons can be learned.

After Jordon Mutch gave the Bluebirds a surprise lead in the Premier League clash Jose Mourinho’s men drew level in controversial fashion when striker Samuel Eto’o kicked the ball away from David Marshall as the Cardiff goalkeeper bounced it.

Belgian international Eden Hazard put the ball in the net and further goals from Eto’o, Oscar and another from Hazard consigned Malky Mackay’s side to a 4-1 defeat. Despite that the incident proved to be a pivotal moment in the encounter.

Mackay afterwards was unhappy with the decision to allow the goal to stand by referee Anthony Taylor and Fifa rules seem to back up the Cardiff boss’ disquiet. Rule 12 states that if a goalkeeper has the ball under his control it is a foul to attempt to take the ball from him.

Even when bouncing the ball under Fifa rules the goalkeeper is regarded as having the ball under control.

Marshall seemed to have bounced it when Eto’o nipped in although Mackay said he was told by referee Taylor afterwards that he and his assistants felt his goalkeeper actually dropped the ball.

The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL), a group formed in 2001 when referees became professional which appoints officials in the top-flight, will look into the goal as part of the evaluation process of referee Taylor at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

A referee’s evaluator will watch footage of the entire contest whilst a match delegate will talk with Mackay about the performance of the officials and listen to any questions and concerns the Cardiff boss might have.

Mackay has already indicated his desire to speak to Mike Riley who heads the PGMOL about the goal.

It is understood the process will take a few days, but it is unlikely referee Anthony will be dropped or rested next weekend as a result of the controversy. But if he is found to be at fault it will effect the mark he is given for his performance as part of an ongoing evaluation of all Premier League officials.

The investigation will look specifically at the positioning of referee Taylor and his officials for the goal and if a mistake is found to have been made the PGMOL will look to learn lessons from it to ensure such an incident does not happen again.

obviously it happened and was missed - it is the outcome of that 'miss' that is the problem. A foul should have been awarded and the goal would not have stood. Whether that would affect the eventual score who knows, and frankly is irrelevant to this incident in isolation.

For me another example of how backward football is compared with so many other sports - cricket, rugby league, rugby union, even tennis - utter contempt for the paying customer, deluding themselves that 'technology' will spoil the game.

Its a wonder they ever allowed floodlights

No good to us though is it, too little too late!!!

its blatant fuckup by the ref, can the match be replayed ???????

its blatant fuckup by the ref, can the match be replayed ???????

When would we play it?

We should all request our money back. We went to see a game of football, but the result was skewed by the officials. Oh, and the game should be replayed

its blatant fuckup by the ref, can the match be replayed ???????

When would we play it?

mid week some time , i dont think we got many mid week games at all ,the break when the champions league goes from group stages to knock out so it doesnt effect chelsea

Lets get realistic... The game won't be replayed

My own opinion on the matter completely clears it up, by the laws of the game yes it is a foul.

But my opinion is if the ball is not in the hands of the goalkeeper then It should be a perfectly legitimate tackle like any other player on the field would have to deal with

My own opinion on the matter completely clears it up, by the laws of the game yes it is a foul.

But my opinion is if the ball is not in the hands of the goalkeeper then It should be a perfectly legitimate tackle like any other player on the field would have to deal with

He's the goalkeeper and not just any other player. Basically what you are saying could be argued by saying when the goalkeeper goes to clear the ball out of his hands or arms that you will kick it before he does.... But you cannot block the keepers kick so technically it would be the same for bouncing as he could do the same to drop kick the ball.