“Fans did identify a reason for the controversial decision to have been made Etienne Fermie, Sports reporter in London Published: 9:13, 22 Jan 2025 Updated: 9:13, 22 Jan 2025 SUNDERLAND were controversially denied a second goal against Derby last night. The Black Cats had gone 1-0 up in the 28th minute courtesy of Eliezer Mayenda’s”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
- Etienne Fermie, Sports reporter in London
- Published: 9:13, 22 Jan 2025
- Updated: 9:13, 22 Jan 2025
The Black Cats had gone 1-0 up in the 28th minute courtesy of Eliezer Mayenda’s opener.
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Wilson Isidor’s goal was controversially disallowedCredit: Sky Sports
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Wilson Isidor thought he’d put Sunderland 2-0 upCredit: Rex
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Referee Sam Allison eventually disallowed the goalCredit: RexIn the second-half, it seemed that they’d scored a second.
Jobe Bellingham lofted the ball over the top to new boy Enzo Le Fee.
As the covering defender attempted to tackle the Frenchman, the ball ricocheted kindly to Wilson Isidor,
The forward thought he’d redeemed himself for his two penalty misses at Burnley on Friday night, when he converted past goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
Isidor celebrated his goal, which was initially given by referee Sam Allison.
After much deliberation, however, the goal was dramatically chalked off – despite there being no VAR in the Championship.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris was baffled by the decision, later telling the BBC: “I don’t know, really. Maybe with VAR we could analyse the first ball and maybe an offside, but I don’t think it was that decision.
“It was higher up the pitch and at the moment we don’t know.”
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Replays showed that neither Le Fee nor Isidor had been offside.
Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Appearing on Soccer Special, he said: “You tell me why. Because the goal should have stood. He’s gone over to the bench and celebrated, then they said he disallowed the goal.
“He was onside, they showed the replay, it’s a great ball. The goal was given, it was pointed, it’s a good ball. They watched it again, Le Fee does well here. Tell me if there’s a foul in this build-up.
“No foul whatsoever at all. Isidor puts it into the net, into the net, under the side of the crossbar, goes and celebrates. There’s no VAR here, the referee had pointed back to the spot, the ball was on the spot. Look, he’s onside, so why has it not stood, the goal?
“Oh, please tell me this, because I’m confused there. He’s not offside. The assistant flag’s down, all the way. All the way down, he puts it in the net, the referee looks at his assistant, the assistant goes, goal stands, he goes and celebrates, then they disallow the goal.
“Could be the fourth official. That’s the only thing that you can think of, because he pointed, there was a celebration. If the referee needs the fourth assistant to where he is on the touchline, wow.”
‘GENUINELY OUTRAGEOUS’Fans were left in disbelief, with one writing on social media: “This is genuinely outrageous. I’m mind blown. Sack every Championship official ffs.”
While a second fumed: “This should result in the ref and the linesman never officiating another game. Utterly ridiculous.”
Isidor himself posted: “Don’t even know what to say…”
Other fans, however, seemed to identify a reason for the goal being disallowed.
As the defender got back in to challenge Le Fee, the ball appeared to ricochet off the Roma loanee’s arm, before falling to Isidor.
FA rules state that an offence has been committed if a player “scores in the opponents’ goal immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental”.
It is not clear if that still applies in this situation, however, given that it was Isidor who scored, rather than Le Fee.
Sunderland’s win saw them leapfrog Burnley into third in the Championship table.
Scott Parker’s side will have the opportunity to move back ahead of the Black Cats when they take on Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
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Isidor and Co moved up to third in the Championship tableCredit: Reuters