Referee Phil Dowd Admits Toon Goal Mistake

By Matthew Jones
October 17 2005

Phil Dowd, referee of Wigan vs Newcastle United on Saturday, has admitted that Newcastle were denied a perfectly good goal as he admits the ball DID cross the line.

It was Alan Shearer who was at the centre of the incident, in which his headed effort was ruled out. 

Dowd said: "Until technology comes in this will keep happening I suppose. Things like this seem to come up every season.

"You hope to get things right. It's frustrating for the referee and everybody else if it looks like it isn't.

"I was in no position to give the goal myself. As a referee you place yourself on the edge of the box so there's nothing you can do. Even for the assistant it's difficult because the ball travels so fast.

"Anybody who knows the game would feel sympathy for the assistant on this occasion. It was unfortunate."