Holland's first goal against Italy

I was rather bemused at Chris Ripard's reaction (June 14) to the article in The Times emphatically stating that Holland's first goal should not have been allowed.

He is quite right in saying that refereeing is not the sole preserve of the Times of Malta; nor is it, for that matter, the sole preserve of the UEFA general secretary or the chairman of the Austrian Refereeing Commission. Indeed it was the sole prerogative of the referee for he was the one on the ground, like it or lump it.

Then again, as they say, what goes round comes around. It may very well be that the Italians may have cried wolf once too often. At any rate, given the outcome, Italian supporters could take solace in the fact that, that one instance would still not have seen their Azzurri carrying it off.