Crystal Palace Football Club News

• Nickname:The Eagles
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Dougie Freedman

• Ground:Selhurst Park
• Capacity:26,309

No replay after phantom goal

17 Aug 2009 - 16:05:52

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The controversial match between Bristol City and Crystal Palace will not be replayed, the Football League has confirmed.

Palace had requested to have the match be replayed after a Freddie Sears goal which hit the back of the net was not seen by the match officials.

After the incident, Eagles chairman Simon Jordan and manager Neil Warnock had called for the match to be replayed, but a statement from the Football League confirmed that Bristol City's 1-0 victory will stand.

"The Football League cannot sanction the replaying of this fixture," read the statement.

"In any match the referee's decision must be final, even in a case such as this where there has been an error of judegment. To do other otherwise would be contrary to the laws of the game.

"With regard to the use of goalline technology, The League has been saying for some considerable time that we would be happy to trial a prototype system in its competitions.

"However, until the law-making bodies of the world game sanction the use of any such system this cannot happen."

Match officials Rob Shoebridge and assistant Chris Knowles have been relieved of their immediate duties in light of the incident.