Football League Rules Out Replay Over Crystal Palace's Ghost Goal

The Football League has ruled out replaying Bristol City's Championship match with Crystal Palace despite the ongoing controversy surrounding Freddie Sears's disallowed goal, claiming the referee's decision "must be final, even when there has been an error of judgment".

Sears hooked a low shot into the corner of the net after 34 minutes at Ashton Gate on Saturday only for the ball to ricochet back into play from the framework at the back of the goal, with neither the referee, Rob Shoebridge, nor the assistant, Chris Knowles, awarding the goal. Both officials have since been relieved of duties by the Professional Game Match Officials Board for a fortnight.

Palace had appealed for the game – which they eventually lost 1-0 – to be replayed though the Football League quashed their hopes. "The Football League cannot sanction the replaying of this fixture," said the League's chief operating officer, Andy Williamson. "In any match the referee's decision must be final, even in a case such as this where there has been an error of judgment. To do other otherwise would be contrary to the laws of the game.

"With regard to the use of goal line technology, the league has been saying for some considerable time that we would be happy to trial a prototype system in its competitions. However, until the lawmaking bodies of the world game sanction the use of any such system this cannot happen."

The PGMOB's chief, Keith Hackett, has since apologized to Palace for the officials' apparent oversight, yet relations between the two clubs – already strained after incidents in the last two seasons – have deteriorated in the wake of Saturday's controversy. Palace's manager, Neil Warnock, declared he felt "cheated, and I'm not saying that against the referee", while their chairman, Simon Jordan, accused City of having "cheated" by not acknowledging the validity of the goal.

The City manager, Gary Johnson, insisted yesterday that he had been told by the match assessor that the goal had actually been disallowed for an infringement in the build-up. "At that actual incident, just after the ball went into the net, the linesman put his flag in the air," said Johnson. "The referee ran over to the linesman who was still standing with his flag in the air and obviously spoke to him. At this point nobody knew why the goal was not given.

"We all saw the ball hit the back of the net. Then the referee didn't give the goal so at the end we asked the referee why the goal wasn't given and he said, 'For an infringement.' That doesn't make me a cheat, a liar or unsporting. That's what's in the report and I think he [Keith Hackett] needs to apologize to Bristol City fans, players and management now. They are the facts that will come out of the report of that event."

The Football Association has indicated it will scrutinize the post-match comments and will also be examining Shoebridge's report on the game.