Luis Garcia’s controversial goal for Liverpool against Chelsea turns 15 today, a defining moment in the 2005 Uefa Champions League semi-final that sent the Anfield club into that famous final, and ultimately European glory, against AC Milan.
It also sparked the long-running rivalry between Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez. To mark its May 3 anniversary, here some other “ghost goals” from football’s history - some that were awarded, some not.
England v West Germany, 1966
Arguably the most famous of all, there are still question marks regarding whether Geoff Hurst's second goal in the 1966 World Cup final crossed the line. With the game at Wembley level at 2-2 in extra-time, Hurst collected a cross from Alan Ball and crashed his effort onto the underside of the bar.
Linesman Tofiq Bahramov indicated the ball had crossed the line and referee Gottfried Dienst dutifully awarded the goal - though to this day it remains unclear from footage if it should’ve been allowed. It gave England the lead, with Hurst completing his hat-trick soon after. The hosts had their first – on thus far only – World Cup trophy.
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 2004
Seeking a rare Premier League win at Old Trafford, Spurs went oh so close in 2004 – in fact, they should have had the three points. With the game drifting to a 0-0 draw, visiting midfielder Pedro Mendes spotted United goalkeeper Roy Carroll off his line and tried an audacious shot from close to the halfway line.
A back-pedalling Carroll was in position to catch the ball, but inexplicably let it slip through his hands and it landed a couple of yards over the line before the Northern Irishman scooped it away in a panic.
The match officials, understandably nowhere near level with the goalline, were fooled by Carroll's poker-face reaction. The goal didn’t stand, and Spurs’ Old Trafford wait continued.
Watford v Reading, 2008
One of the most bizarre goals ever awarded placed fresh-faced referee Stuart Attwell, 25, at the heart of the controversy. Immediately, it lifted a game in the Championship – English football’s second tier – to garnering headlines around the world. Reading’s Stephen Hunt had whipped in a 13th-minute corner that struck Watford defender John Eustace and bounced well wide of the goal.
It was so far wide, in fact, that visiting striker Noel Hunt had stretched to keep the ball in play and a scramble ensued. Afterwards, linesman Nigel Bannister called Atwell over and, duped by an optical illusion, insisted the ball had gone into the net when it deflected off Eustace.
So an own goal was awarded. There was carnage at Vicarage Road as Watford protested the decision, with manager Aidy Boothroyd sent to the stands. No doubt aggrieved by the injustice, Watford responded brilliantly to take the lead, but the game eventually finished 2-2.
England v Germany, 2010
Call it some sort of revenge for 1966, if you like. This time, England were on the other end of a wildly contentious decision, although this one was nowhere near as marginal. In the last-16 encounter against Germany at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Fabio Capello's men were trailing 2-1 when, on the stroke of half-time, Frank Lampard's shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar and bounced over the line by some way.
However, to England’s dismay, the linesman wasn’t up with play and, with the referee unsighted, no goal was awarded. Replays confirmed the ball had clearly crossed the line. England never recovered, and went on to lose 4-1 to one of their greatest rivals.
Hoffenheim v Bayer Leverkusen, 2013
Only the most bizarre set of circumstances gifted Stefan Kiessling a goal for Leverkusen in a 2013 Bundesliga encounter. With the visitors leading 1-0 at Hoffenheim, Kiessling jumped highest from a corner and sent his header what appeared to be into the net to give his side a 2-0 advantage.
On first viewing it looked a routine goal, beating the goalkeeper at the near post. However, replays showed the ball had actually hit the side-netting, with Kiessling even holding his head in disappointment at his effort narrowly missing the target.
Instead, the header had found its route into the goal by squeezing through a hole in the net. To his credit, Kiessling tried telling the referee that it did not go in. But the goal stood and Leverkusen went on to win 2-1.
