Kuyt goal correct

27 September 2010 10:12
Dirk Kuyt's goal on Saturday deserved to stand. Sunderland complained bitterly about Kuyt's opener on Saturday saying Michael Turner did not intend to take the free-kick that Liverpool ended up scoring from. However, the Professional Games Match Officials (PGMO) said the referee made the right decision in allowing the goal. "PGMO has reviewed the first goal scored between Liverpool and Sunderland and believe that the correct decisions were made," the PGMO said in a statement yesterday. "According to the Laws of the Game, having stopped the game for any infringement the referee is required to "indicate the restart of the match". "In practice, in the majority of cases, referees indicate for the re-start by gesturing to players to take the kick. These gestures can be minimal. For the more important 'ceremonial' free-kicks, which also involve control of the defensive wall, referees can indicate by using the whistle. However, there is no requirement by Law to use the whistle to make the indication. "The ball is then in play when it is kicked and moves. So, in this case, the ball was in play as soon as it is kicked by a Sunderland player. "Also, the Laws state that the free-kick must be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. Again, in this case, the referee correctly determined that the free-kick was played from the right place."

Source: FOOTYMAD