Controversy over Roma’s winning goal at Udinese

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Controversy over Roma’s winning goal at Udinese

A controversial goal helped Roma to a 1-0 win at Udinese on Tuesday, local time, highlighting the need for goal-line technology and moving the Giallorossi within one point of Serie A leader Juventus.

Juventus was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Inter Milan, with Mauro Icardi scoring the equalizer following Carlos Tevez’s opener for the hosts.

Earlier, a header from Roma defender Davide Astori in the 17th minute hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down near the goal line.

The goal-line official ruled that the ball did not entirely cross the line but after protests from Roma the referee overruled him, sparking outrage from Udinese.

“If the referee decides on his own then let’s remove the goal-line official, because there’s a structural error here,’’ Udinese Coach Andrea Stramaccioni said.

Replays were inconclusive.

“The goal-line official told me it wasn’t a goal but it’s the referee who decides and I think he saw it correctly,’’ Astori said.

Roma Coach Rudi Garcia is a proponent of introducing goal-line technology.

“With the technology there wouldn’t have been any controversy,’’ Garcia said. “It was a goal but if there had been confirmation it would have been better, especially for the referees.’’

The win put Roma nine points ahead of third-place Lazio ahead of Sunday’s Rome derby.

At the Stadio Friuli, Roma’s 38-year-old captain Francesco Totti set up the goal with a free kick that Astori met in the center of the area.

Udinese protested for a penalty when Urby Emanuelson made contact with Panagiotis Kone inside the area in the 85th but the referee ruled to play on, resulting in more protests from the hosts and a management member on Udinese’s bench being sent off.

However, the match will be remembered for the controversy surrounding the goal.

Goal-line technology was used at last year’s World Cup but hasn’t yet been approved for Serie A. Full instant replay has not been approved yet by FIFA but Italian Football Federation President Carlo Tavecchio has offered to use it in Serie A next season as an experiment.

“In sports with inferior numbers to football they have the technology. In tennis, for example, there is Hawk-Eye, but we don’t have it and we don’t understand why. It’s absurd,’’ Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani said.

In Turin, Tevez scored from close range following an excellent setup by Arturo Vidal after five minutes.

Juventus had chances to double its lead but was denied by Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

AP


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