WHAT A TOTAL BALLS-UP

HAWKEYE were forced into issuing a grovelling apology after a goalline technology gaffe denied Sheffield United a goal in a controversial return of the Premier League.

Aston Villa keeper Orjan Nyland clearly carried Oliver Norwood’s 42nd-minute free-kick over the line, yet ref Michael Oliver did not receive a signal to indicate the goal. VAR also failed to intervene in the first game back since the season was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Hawkeye claimed that all seven of its goalline cameras were obscured by either the goalkeeper, a defender or the goalpost – insisting the situation had never happened before in more than 9,000 matches it had covered.

Fuming Blades boss Chris Wilder said: “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I’ve just seen Del Boy with a Hawkeye watch on. I think the

goalkeeper was in the Holte End when he caught it – or dragged it back. My issue is obviously one of frustration.

“Seven cameras haven’t picked it up – the most technical league in the world – everything we see at every angle and it hasn’t seen a goal.

“We wanted somebody at Stockley Park to show a bit of courage and say they will make that decision but if they’ve not seen it and seven cameras haven’t seen it, I suppose he will say that it was not their decision to make. But it’s farcical really.

“We have one of the best referees in the Premier League – if not Europe – in Michael Oliver and I’d expect the decision to be given on a parks’ pitch.

“I feel sorry for both him and the fourth official.

“Everyone saw it – all 300 of us in the ground.”

Hawk-eye Innovations, who run the technology, said in a statement: “The seven cameras located in the stands were significantly occluded by the goalkeeper, defender, and goalpost. This level of occlusion has never been seen before in over 9,000 matches that the Hawk-eye Goal Line Technology system has been in operation.”

Villa boss Dean Smith admitted his side got lucky. He said: “We have got away with one with the technology not working. But although it might have changed the game, I dispute that it could have

cost us.”