Harry Redknapp reignited the debate about goal-line technology after watching two blunders by the assistant referees hand Tottenham a devastating 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.
The Blues enjoyed a double dose of outrageous fortune to keep their Premier League hopes alive and all but kill off Spurs’ chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League and earning another £30 million jackpot.
Tottenham were leading 1-0 through Sandro’s first goal for the club when assistant Mike Cairns wrongly ruled Heurelho Gomes had spilt Frank Lampard’s shot over his own line.
That was compounded in the 89th minute when Martin Yerby failed to spot Salomon Kalou was offside when netting the winner.
Redknapp’s anger was vented more at the game’s lawmakers than the officials, although he did accuse Cairns of “guessing” and of being influenced by the Stamford Bridge crowd when awarding Lampard’s equaliser.
“He’s on the 18-yard line when the ball’s on the goal-line,” Redknapp said. “It’s impossible to judge. No-one in this world can be sure if it’s crossed the line or not. He’s had a guess and was wrong.
“It was an honest guess, he hasn’t done it purposely because he wanted Chelsea to win or Tottenham to lose.
“He’s made a mistake and it happens all the time. Until we get technology, it’ll keep happening.”
Ironically, Lampard was the same player famously denied a goal in England’s World Cup thrashing by Germany last summer.
Redknapp added: “When Frank Lampard can hit a shot that goes two foot in the back of the goal and they don’t give a goal, it shows you it will continue to happen. It takes five seconds to get the right decision. What is wrong with getting the right decision?
“People say, ‘That’s the fun of the game’. How’s it the fun of the game getting wrong decisions and giving goals when they’re not goals or not giving a goal when it should be a goal?
“The game is about getting decisions right. The whole ball has to cross the line. If you’re in doubt, you shouldn’t give it, but it’s so difficult to see in that split second.”