Cech disputes Liverpool winner
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is not convinced Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final winner should have been allowed to stand.
The 22-year-old Czech Republic stopper was left helpless after compatriot Milan Baros clipped the ball into space and Luis Garcia poked the ball towards goal.
Television replays could not prove if the ball crossed the line before it was hooked to safety, but Cech believes the position of the assistant referee made it impossible to tell whether a goal should have been awarded.
“The linesman was standing in such a position that he simply could not see the ball as Gallas blocked it with his body,” Cech told Czech reporters after the game.
“I was surprised the referees decided the goal was scored, when they could not see it.”
“I asked him (the assistant referee) how he could be so sure that it was a goal,”
Chelsea could not get the vital away goal needed to reach the final in Istanbul later this month, although Cech did not want to dwell on Liverpool’s controversial winner.
“There is nothing to add to this. No protest will return us back to the competition,” he added.
Cech believes Luis Garcia’s goal proves technology should be introduced for key decisions, adding: “It is at least something to think about. Soccer is the only sport where the referee has no chance to verify his verdict.
“Everybody is opposing the video, but a video consultation would not take as long as two minutes. During one goal kick more time is wasted.”
Cech does not believe Liverpool would have received a penalty because of his challenge on Baros, regardless of whether Luis Garcia’s shot crossed the line.
Cech added: “I just occupied the space. Milan hit the ball and then he jumped into me. In my opinion it could not be a penalty.”
