Oi vey, ref!
Northern rivals must replay cup tie after gaffe from ref ( far left) in Liverpool
HAROLDEANS AND Manchester Maccabi have been ordered to replay their Peter Morrison Trophy quarter-final due to an error from the match referee.
The original tie in Liverpool on Sunday finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. Match referee Ray McLaughlin then informed both captains he could only play 10 minutes each way of extra-time rather than the official 15 as he had another commitment.
With no further goals, the tie was settled by penalties, with Haroldeans progressing 2-1 ... or so they thought.
However, on Tuesday, National Football Committee chairman Rob Richman, who runs the Peter Morrison Trophy, confirmed the referee’s timekeeping had contravened one of the competition’s rules.
A statement from the competition organiser read: “The management committee received a complaint from Manchester Maccabi regarding the amount of extra-time played in the cup quarter-final versus Haroldeans.
“The referee admitted to playing ten minutes each way rather than the required 15 minutes. Rule 20 (a) states that ‘in the event of the scores in a match being level at the end of 90 minutes play (or shorter time), 30 minutes extra-time shall be played in two equal periods of 15 minutes.
“Unfortunately the referee did not follow the rules set out by the competition. As such the committee were in full agreement that we had no choice but to order the game to be replayed at a time and date to be determined.”
The decision was made before the semi-final draw, which also features holders Maccabi London Lions, HMH and Mill Hill Dons.
Jared Clein, 17, was Haroldeans’ hero in the shoot-out, saving two Manchester penalties. Playing their illustrious opponents for the first time, the hosts fell behind in normal time when Aron Goldman bundled the ball over the line from close range a minute before the interval.
Haroldeans equalised on 55 minutes when Paul Harris curled an exquisite free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards.
In the shoot-out, Maccabi’s Josh Sandberg saved three penalties but Eden Harris and Maxim Green converted for the Merseysiders. But their celebrations were cut short by the error of the official.
A Maccabi spokesman confirmed the visitors “made it very clear the referee wasn’t adhering to the rules before the start of extra-time”. He went on to say: “It wasn’t an easy decision to make the complaint but the bottom line is the referee took the law into his own hands. We felt as though Haroldeans were out on their feet and the shortened game disadvantage us.”
Haroldeans will hold a meeting this week to discuss a possible appeal.