England

The Referee Made A Serious Error Against Sunderland - Liverpool 'Keeper Pepe Reina

The Reds 'keeper doesn't feel the game should be replayed...

Oct 20, 2009 3:16:35 AM

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Pepe Reina, Spain (PA)

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Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has told Spanish television that referee Mike Jones "made a serious error" in awarding a goal to Sunderland striker Darren Bent after it deflected past the Reds stopper off a beach ball.

"If it is difficult to stop one ball, imagine two. It was a very serious mistake from the referee, we were pretty hard done by," Reina told Canal + show El Dia Despues.

Much has been made of the bizarre goal which condemned the Reds to their fourth league defeat of the season and Reina explained how he lost sight of the game ball in the incident.

He continued, "There was a time when the ball was between Glen Johnson and the balloon, and I lost sight of it. That's the worst that can happen to a goalie. Moreover, the first ball to move was the red one, and so I directed my eyes towards that.

"The contact completely changed the trajectory of the ball," he noted, but added that although the error was a serious one, the game should not be replayed.

"At first I did not protest much, but had I known the rule I would have done so significantly. Then I saw that the referee was talking to the touchline official, and was told that the ball had not touched the beach ball.

"I agree the game should not be replayed, but it must be recognised that the error is serious."

Paul Madden, Goal.com