4 years ago

Referee Andre Marriner comes under fire for controversial disallowed goal in play-offs

The Championship play-off final is often described as the richest game in football.

That moniker is especially accurate this season, with an increased Premier League purse awaiting whichever team joins Burnley and Middlesbrough in the top flight.

That means referees will be under the microscope more than usual, and Andre Marriner felt the brunt of the tension after disallowing a goal from Sheffield Wednesday in their play-off semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Seen the replays, and it does appear Marriner made right decision to disallow the goal. Just took an awful long time to do so.

— Mark Staniforth (@markstani1) May 13, 2016

Fernando Forestieri thought he had given the hosts a first-half lead, only for Marriner and his assistants to take a very long time to rule out the strike.

Naturally, fans were none too happy with the ruling, and the officials were booed off at half-time despite Ross Wallace giving Wednesday a half-time lead.

When does Andre Marriner: The Musical come to the West End? #swfc #bhafc

— Laura Lawrence ⚽📚 (@YICETOR) May 13, 2016

But it wasn't all criticism

Keith Hackett (a #swfc fan) tells me "great decision by ref Marriner & asst Cann to disallow goal. FF offside & Hooper didn't make contact"

— Alan Biggs (@AlanBiggs1) May 13, 2016

Big call from the officials to disallow @swfc goal but spot on decision. Offside from initial ball and no touch from Hooper.

— Danny Higginbotham (@Higginbotham05) May 13, 2016

He was about 20 yards offside to be fair #bhafc #swfc pic.twitter.com/Z4QwfKGct3

— Malc Buss (@malc_b25) May 13, 2016

And some thought the amount of time taken was bizarre at best

Bizarre off side decision. If the ref had waited any longer to disallow the goal it would've been next season. #SWFC #bhafc

— John Bennett (@JohnBennettBBC) May 13, 2016