REF MUST PAY FOR HIS GAFFE — PARKER
SCOTT PARKER last night led the calls for Martin Atkinson to be punished for the goal-line blunder which swung the FA Cup semi-final out of Tottenham’s reach. ‘Anyone else in any line of work making a wrong decision like that will be held responsible,’ said Parker. ‘It was the most important part of the game. We were 1-0 down at that point and at 2-0 we had to go and chase the game and were caught by a couple of sucker punches. ‘There were so many players surrounding the ball. The linesman said he did not make the decision, which I would not expect him to. The referee took it on himself to make the call and he got it wrong. ‘It’s obvious that the ball is not even remotely close to the line. In such a crucial game, you have to be 100 per cent sure it is over the line.’ Parker led the protests on the pitch after Atkinson awarded Chelsea a goal even though Juan Mata’s shot did not cross the line before striking Benoit Assou-ekotto on the boot and bouncing clear. The referee apologised to Spurs manager Harry Redknapp but the decision has reopened the debate about goal-line technology. Parker said: ‘Even if we had goal-line technology, you wouldn’t have referred to it with that one. It was that far away from the line that you probably don’t have to make that decision.’ The 5-1 defeat continues a worrying downturn in form for Redknapp’s team, who are still clinging to fourth place in the Barclays Premier League. Parker added: ‘If we don’t end up fourth this year we will have failed. Everyone is doubting us. Even our own fans and probably even our own manager doubts us so we need to stand up and be counted.’ Atkinson has at least been spared the embarrassment of being axed for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures as he is on international duty. The 41-year-old is part of the team officiating Monday’s Olympic qualifier between Senegal and Oman in Coventry. However, Professional Game Match Officials Limited, who oversee referees in England, are said to be ‘bewildered’ by his decision and may drop him from the Premier League line-up next weekend.