Former top Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said he felt for the referee’s assistant over the controversy surrounding Norwich City’s first goal against Derby County at the weekend.
The Canaries ran out 3-2 winners at Pride Park, but the game was shrouded in controversy over two decisions that went against the Rams, both of which led to goals.
Borja Sainz’s first goal was given despite the ball being over the line when Josh Sargent crossed to the near post. The ball was also out of play for Norwich’s third goal when Derby should have been awarded a corner but instead play was allowed to continue and Sainz wrapped up his hat-trick.
The first goal was discussed on Sky Sports with Gallagher today and he said it should have been ruled out. The presenter said: “This caused, and I’ll use that word again, a hell of a hullabaloo, didn’t it? Does the ball go out of play here, Dermot?”
And Gallagher responded: “It does. I feel for the assistant because you can’t tell his position. You can’t tell whether he’s got down to the line. He wraps his leg around, and it happens very, very quickly.
“It’s just one of them that, without the cameras, you can’t tell. It is out of play only, just as I say.
“I don’t know where the assistant is, but it should have been disallowed. You don’t know if he’s managed to get down to the line in that move; you have to be on the line to make that decision.”
