“In the course of any season, some decisions will go in your favour and some will go against you. In the end, these more or less even each other out. For that reason, I disagree with the crigged-style third umpire. It's bad enough that it interrupts the flow of a cricket match, which is hardly the fastest paced game on earth. In footie, it would be intolerable.

This case was not borderline and, between them, the ref and the linesmen should have been able to see that it was a pukka goal. That they did not implies either that they are dishonest (most improbable) or that they are not up to the job. That the ref has been removed from his next match suggests the latter.

This only matters, as the (once) beautiful game has been tainted by money, mostly Murdoch's. Not only does this create an imbalance (which anywhere else would be investigated as market failure) but means that clubs throw morality and scruples to the four winds for financial survival.

I also wonder, had the roles been reversed, if we would have stood aside and allowed City a free goal.”

“The refereeing team made a mistake no-one can understand and have been punished by having their next appointments taken off them (presumably as punishment for blinking at the same time).

If, as the argument goes, "everyone but the refereeing team saw the goal", why didn't the Bristol City players and management allow Crystal Palace to score again?

I'd rather make a mistake than be so immoral as to cheat then blame someone else, but that's clearly a quaint little principle which has no place in football.”

“Pete, I agree wasnt arguing with you was just going on from the other comments.
My comments are you do what you can to win, if i handled in the box and the ref missed it but there players saw it, id not own up!!”

“makes you wonder if the four officials had a bet on game palace wasn't supposed to score”

“Gosh I Love being a palace fan their is never a dull moment If it isn't SJ opening his mouth and saying things out of place you get our Neil start ram-ping and raving about referees decisions, on top of that we've had transfer embargo imposed on us I just have to look on the bright side, we cant buy or bring in crap and we cant sell off young talent.”

“was at a game long time ago against forest , when i think it was Terry Wharton shot into the side netting , all the crowd as well as the ref thought it was a goal . Then our captain mr honesty steve kember admitted it wasn't . The goal was disallowed think game finished one all . Pity the bristol captain wasn't as honest as our steve.”

“Warren, I haven't played myself but there is something called common sense. There is also something called gamesmanship , Its called doing the right and proper thing. This one is different from the norm, it hit the back of the net and most people knew it was a goal whereas the Mendes one was clearly over the line but missed by the officials. This was a clear error by Shoebridge, whereas the officials at Old Trafford could not rule on it. I can't understand how some people who think they know the game but can't get to grips with the fact this was an error of all proportion and not a "normal" week in week out occcurrence such as a disputed penalty, offside decisions or was it, wasnt it over the line. I don't need to tell you what happened with our goal do I mate.”

“If you have played any standard of football, you will notice that each player will do what ever it takes to win, and in this case Bristol City showed gamesmanship by carrying on.

Ok we (Palace) were done but it is one of those things,
Remember when Pedro Mendes scored for Pompey against Man Utd, Roy Carroll carried on as if it didnt go over, it clearly did but it is all about winning and no player unless your Di Canio is going to admit it went in.”

“Thank you Cosmas and Pete, you will be invited. The answer is yes by the way, I will marry you Julie.”

“Yeh I'm sick of this place, no one ever smiles up here, I'm Billy no mates. My social circle will better for me when I move back to where I belong. I'm a proud Londoner as well as proud Eagles fan. You're right we do have to move on but maybe something positve will come from this, for Palace and football in general but on the other hand Bristol will not have done themselves any favours whatsoever judging by the overwhelming support for us up and down the country.”