Unsubstantiated complaints

The decisions in question

Tottenham are complaining against two decisions disallowing goals scored by their players. In the first incident ar Sovre adjudged Dempsey offside when the ball was crossed towards him before he headed home (22w). What seemed to be yards offside on first glance became the most marginal offside on second glance (angle of replay camera), but it was (one of his legs was about 2-3 inches closer to Lazio's goal-line than the defender's body. Sovre vindicated! The second incident happened after 70 minutes when Hategan decided Caulker climbed on an opponent's shoulders in order to head a corner-kick into Lazio's net. One should emphasise that all could here the whistle going much earlyier than the ball crossed the goal-line. Well, this decision would not have been given by an English ref. as they allow more physical, body-contact incidents go unpunished. But as it was a "continental" referee to handle the game, the decision could be accepted as valid.

More about the trio

Mr. Hategan had generally a good game. There were cases of very good application of the advantage rule, especially his attempt to do so in favour of Spurs in the 25th minute. On the other hand, as the game dragged on he used the advantage less and less on bothe sides (for example, minutes 65', 79'). The ars, Szekely and Sovre had a solid game.

Lazio's supporters

They follow their team everywhere and support their players loudly. But the vehement racist roars establish Lazio's reputation of havig too many hard-core fans of the fascist neo-nazi type while the club's directors and officials don't do enough to root out these rotten weeds.