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Sheffield United join list of football's famous ghost goals

Sheffield United join list of football's famous ghost goals
© Reuters
Villa keeper Orjan Nyland looked to have carried the ball over the line from a free-kick.

Sheffield United were denied a goal in the first half of their Premier League game against Aston Villa due to a Hawkeye technical error.

Villa keeper Orjan Nyland looked to have carried the ball over the line from a free-kick, with replays suggesting he was comfortably inside the net, but the goal-line technology did not indicate a goal for the Blades.

Here, the PA news agency looks at other 'ghost goals', some awarded, some not.

England v West Germany, 1966

Arguably the most famous contentious goal in English history, there are still question marks over whether Sir Geoff Hurst's second goal in the 1966 World Cup final crossed the line. With the game level at 2-2 in extra-time, Hurst collected a cross from Alan Ball and sent an effort crashing onto the underside of the bar. Linesman Tofiq Bahramov indicated the ball had crossed the line, though it is unclear from footage, and the referee Gottfried Dienst awarded the goal. It gave England the lead, with Hurst completing his hat-trick soon after.

England v Germany, 2010

Frank Lampard was denied a clear goal in the 2010 World Cup against Germany
Frank Lampard was denied a clear goal in the 2010 World Cup against Germany (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The Three Lions were on the other end of a decision in the 2010 World Cup, though this was nowhere near as marginal. In the last-16 encounter in South Africa, Fabio Capello's men were trailing 2-1 when, on the stroke of half-time, Frank Lampard's shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar and obviously looked to bounce over the line by a couple of yards. The linesman was not level with play and the referee was unsighted so no goal was awarded, to the dismay of England. Replays confirmed the ball had clearly crossed the line and the Three Lions went on to lose 4-1.

Liverpool v Chelsea, 2005

Luis Garcia's goal against Chelsea took Liverpool to the  Champions League final
Luis Garcia's goal against Chelsea took Liverpool to the Champions League final (Phil Noble/PA)

Luis Garcia scored a controversial goal to help Liverpool past Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League semi-final, with the ball seemingly not going over the line before being cleared. Blues boss Jose Mourinho described it as a "ghost goal" as the Reds won the tie 1-0. Liverpool went on to win the competition after producing a stunning comeback from 3-0 down in the final against AC Milan in Istanbul, winning on penalties.

Watford v Reading, 2008

Stuart Attwell was embroiled in controversy in his early days as a Football League referee
Stuart Attwell was embroiled in controversy in his early days as a Football League referee (Richard Sellers/PA)

One of the most bizarre goals ever awarded saw fresh-faced referee Stuart Atwell at the heart of the controversy. In a Championship game, Reading had a corner which hit Watford defender John Eustace and bounced well wide of the goal. It was so wide that a Reading player stretched to keep the ball in play and a scramble ensued. Afterwards, linesman Nigel Bannister called Atwell over and – duped by an optical illusion – insisted the ball had gone into the net when it deflected off Eustace. There was carnage as Watford protested the decision, with manager Aidy Bothroyd sent to the stands. The game ended 2-2.

Hoffenheim v Leverkusen, 2013

Only the most bizarre set of circumstances saw Stefan Kiessling awarded a goal for Leverkusen in a 2013 Bundesliga match. With the visitors leading 1-0 at Hoffenheim, Kiessling jumped highest from a corner and sent a header goalwards. On first viewing it looked a routine goal, beating the goalkeeper at the near post. However, replays showed that the ball hit the side-netting, with Kiessling holding his head in disappointment, but the ball went through a hole in the net and ended up in the goal. Kiessling tried telling the referee that it did not go in but the goal stood and Leverkusen went on to win 2-1.

Manchester United v Tottenham, 2004

Pedro Mendes was denied a winning goal at Old Trafford by some poor officiating
Pedro Mendes was denied a winning goal at Old Trafford by some poor officiating (Sean Dempsey/PA)

Tottenham rarely win at Old Trafford, so they could have done with a bit of fortune in 2004, but they were found wanting. With the game drifting to a 0-0 draw, Spurs midfielder Pedro Mendes spotted United goalkeeper Roy Carroll off his line and tried an audacious shot from near the halfway line. A back-pedalling Carroll was in position to catch the ball but inexplicably let it slip through his hands and it landed a couple of yards over the line. The match officials were nowhere near level and were fooled by Carroll's poker-face reaction, having scooped the ball away.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
15Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
16Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
17Derby CountyDerby205692226-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth183872130-917
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


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