August 17 2009

Simon Jordan

Crystal Palace chief Simon Jordan has told "gutless" Bristol City they should replay Saturday's game after the shocking referee blunder.

Jordan was livid ref Robert Shoebridge failed to spot Freddie Sears' shot had crossed the goal-line when it rebounded out after hitting the base of the stanchion.

Shoebridge awarded a goal kick after consulting his linesman and City went on to win the match in the 89th minute.

Jordan reckons Bristol City cheated and says he would play the match again if it happened to his side.

He said: "If it happened at Palace I’d offer Bristol City another game, but they are gutless and they won’t.

"I swear on my daughter’s life that I would do that because I believe in taking the moral high ground.

"I think Bristol City cheated, I think they know it was a goal. Win at all costs is part and parcel of professional sport, but not by cheating.

"I can categorically tell you that if the roles were reversed, I would send my assistant manager or someone down to say to Neil Warnock, 'Tell them it was a goal'. I just don’t understand in this life or the next that the referee missed it."

Referees’ chief Keith Hackett apologised to Eagles manager Neil Warnock and the Palace fans who travelled to Ashton gate. Shoebridge plus assistant Chris Knowles have been removed from officiating tomorrow's league match between Plymouth and Cardiff.

Hackett said: "You’d like to think the match officials, the three of them, would’ve spotted the ball had crossed the line. You would first of all hope they have spotted that particular incident.

"Under law, the fourth official is not allowed to assist in the process had he seen it. It’s disappointing. I’ve spoken to him on behalf of the match officials and the PGMO (Professional Game Match Officials), and I make a public apology to the players and the spectators of Palace."