Last year they were at the receiving end of the “beach ball” goal.This year they are at the other end – Fernando Torres and Kuyt combining to score a goal that will surely go down in Premier League history as one of the most unusual goals ever scored.Take a look.
A statement from the Professional Game Match Officials body about the controversial goal read as follows….
“PGMO has reviewed the first goal scored between Liverpool and Sunderland and believe that the correct decisions were made.
“According to the Laws of the Game, having stopped the game for any infringement the referee is required to ‘indicate the restart of the match’.
“In practice, in the majority of cases, referees indicate for the restart by gesturing to players to take the kick. These gestures can be minimal. For the more important ‘ceremonial’ free-kicks, which also involve control of the defensive wall, referees can indicate by using the whistle. However, there is no requirement by Law to use the whistle to make the indication.
“The ball is then in play when it is kicked and moves. So, in this case, the ball was in play as soon as it is kicked by a Sunderland player.
“Also, the Laws state that the free-kick must be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. Again, in this case, the referee correctly determined that the free-kick was played from the right place.”