Linesman Mauricio Espinosa ended England’s World Cup hopes: Ferdinand
June 28th, 2010 - 12:18 pm ICT by ANILondon, Jun 28 (ANI): Injured England skipper Rio Ferdinand has accused linesman Mauricio Espinosa of wrecking the team’s World Cup dream, as the Uruguayan referee failed to spot Frank Lampard’s 39th minute shot that had crossed the goal line.
England lost 1-4 to Germany at the World Cup on Sunday.
The Manchester United ace insisted that the equaliser would have encouraged the Three Lions on to victory.
“If Lamps’ goal had stood it would have been 2-2 and then the game would’ve turned on its head. We’d have been at full throttle. I’m sure we’d have gone on to win it,” The Sun quoted Ferdinand, as saying.
“I was sitting here with my mates and we were all screaming at the TV along with everyone else in the pubs going bananas. I’m a professional footballer but I’m also a fan so I know what it’s like,” he said.
“Your emotions get a grip of you and you think, How’s he not seen it? It wasn’t like a counter-attack or something; he was up there with the run of play. He has to be able to see that,” Ferdinand said.
Asked if he backed the use of video technology, he said: “I’ve always been an advocate of keeping the game as natural as possible. But it could have defined our tournament if that goal had been given.”
Ferdinand painted his face with St George’s cross for luck, as he watched the last-16 clash with family and friends while recuperating from his knee injury. (ANI)
- Linesman's wife knew he had blundered in disallowing Lamp's goal - Jul 02, 2010
- Uruguayan linesman blames Lampard's shot speed for horror decision - Jul 06, 2010
- Furious fans claim hard earned money wasted with England's WC exit - Jun 28, 2010
- Lampard to lead England in friendly against Denmark - Feb 09, 2011
- Disallowed England goal reverberates around world - Jun 27, 2010
- Capello risks rift with players by passing buck for World Cup fiasco - Aug 10, 2010
- England-Germany 'blunder referees' under South African police guard - Jun 28, 2010
- Portugal boss calls for new technology in football - Jun 28, 2010
- Germany crush England 4-1 for quarterfinal berth (Lead) - Jun 27, 2010
- Controversy in Germany's 4-1 demolition of England (Night Lead) - Jun 28, 2010
- Another "Wembley" goal highlights officiating problems at World Cup - Jun 27, 2010
- Lampard backs uncle Redknapp to succeed Capello as England boss - Feb 19, 2011
- Shocked Britons mourn German drubbing - Jun 27, 2010
- Lampard says no qualms about doing a 'Henry' for England - Mar 13, 2010
- Uruguayan international Sebastian wants to end career at Nacional - Apr 15, 2012
Tags: england skipper, equaliser, espinosa, family and friends, frank lampard, full throttle, goal line, going bananas, knee injury, linesman, manchester united, mates, mauricio, professional footballer, rio ferdinand, st george, three lions, uruguayan referee, video technology, world cup dream