Goal that never was - who is to blame?

On Saturday we witnessed one of the most bizarre incidents of this fledgling season or any season for that matter. We saw a goal awarded when the ball went nowhere near the goal – what exactly happened?

Whilst laying on my bed watching Gillette Soccer Saturday on Saturday strangely enough – Kammy went mental at the goings on in his game. He claimed that Reading had 'scored a goal that was never a goal but was a goal' – you have to love that man. However not until you actually see what happened does all become clear.

Sadly Youtube have already pulled all the videos with the Football League having claimed copyright infringement. For those who haven't yet had the opportunity to see it, basically it was a corner to Reading, the ball swung in and came off a Watford defender. A Reading player tried to keep the ball in as it bounced about three yards wide of the post – at this point the assistant flagged for a goal and as the players jogged back expecting a goal kick – they were stunned when after a bit of a chin-wag – the youngest ever top flight referee gave the goal.

There are those that lay the blame solely at the feet of Nigel Bannister the assistant who flagged but I'm not one of them. However it looks like the head of the Professional Game Match Officials board does and plans to let Stuart Attwell escape sanction.

The referee has to be accountable for his actions when all is said and done. He would've known that it wasn't a goal and yet despite this he went with the word of his assistant. I know they are there to help the referee out but sometimes the man in the middle has to take charge. I look forward to the referee lists this week to see where he ends up.