Linesman saw the "hand of god"

[Milky]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007020453,00.html

THE linesman when Maradona scored his infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986 has claimed it should NEVER have been allowed.

Bulgarian Bogdan Dotchev also launched an attack on the Tunisian referee, branding him “an idiot more fit to herd camels in the desert than take charge of a World Cup gameâ€Â.

Dotchev broke his 20-year silence after ref Ali Bin Nasser last week blamed him for not signalling the handball.

But Dotchev insisted: “A European referee would never recognise the validity of such a goal.

“European refs take charge of at least one or two important games per month and are used to big-match pressure.

“What is there for Bin Nasser to referee in the desert where there is nothing but camels?â€Â

Argentina’s midfielder Diego Maradona palmed the ball into the goal over England keeper Peter Shilton in Mexico City.

Dotchev, a top Bulgarian official back then, says he knew Maradona had used his hand.

But he claims: “With the ref having said the goal was valid, I couldn’t have waved my flag and told him the goal wasn’t good  the rules were different back then.â€ÂArgentina went on to a 2-1 victory to reach the semi-final  eventually winning the tournament.

But last night British refs chief Keith Hackett, in charge of nearly 100 internationals between 1981-91, said: “There were NO rules at the time which said this linesman could not alert the referee to a handball.

“This incident was one of incompetence on the part of the officials.â€Â

[Master Fox]

Thanks a lot Bogdan! Bit late now though don't you think?

[IDEA OR IKEA]

Thanks a lot Bogdan! Bit late now though don't you think?

Its just anouther one of those pointless stories that come out - can't change the past!

Next it will be "Gazza - 'I could have got to the ball at the back post in the last minute against Germany at Euro 96 but decided we had a better chance on penalties' - SHOCKER!

[MC Prussian]

I do also see a lot...

... when I say hello to the twelfth successive Lager.

[Thracian]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007020453,00.html

THE linesman when Maradona scored his infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986 has claimed it should NEVER have been allowed.

Bulgarian Bogdan Dotchev also launched an attack on the Tunisian referee, branding him “an idiot more fit to herd camels in the desert than take charge of a World Cup game”.

Dotchev broke his 20-year silence after ref Ali Bin Nasser last week blamed him for not signalling the handball.

But Dotchev insisted: “A European referee would never recognise the validity of such a goal.

“European refs take charge of at least one or two important games per month and are used to big-match pressure.

“What is there for Bin Nasser to referee in the desert where there is nothing but camels?”

Argentina’s midfielder Diego Maradona palmed the ball into the goal over England keeper Peter Shilton in Mexico City.

Dotchev, a top Bulgarian official back then, says he knew Maradona had used his hand.

But he claims: “With the ref having said the goal was valid, I couldn’t have waved my flag and told him the goal wasn’t good — the rules were different back then.”Argentina went on to a 2-1 victory to reach the semi-final — eventually winning the tournament.

But last night British refs chief Keith Hackett, in charge of nearly 100 internationals between 1981-91, said: “There were NO rules at the time which said this linesman could not alert the referee to a handball.

“This incident was one of incompetence on the part of the officials.”

I hope his country and his family are proud of him.