Linesman who didn’t see England goal against Germany at World Cup calls error ‘unfortunate’

Linesman calls failure to award goal ‘unfortunate’

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — The Uruguayan linesman who failed to see that a shot from England midfielder Frank Lampard crossed the goal line against Germany at the World Cup has described the error as “unfortunate.”

Mauricio Espinosa was quoted Monday in the Uruguayan newspaper El Pais that “it was unfortunate, a very fast ball that we couldn’t see as it went into the goal despite my positioning being correct.”

He said the realization he’d made a mistake left a “very bitter” feeling, but that there was no option now but to “get on with things” as “these are things that can happen in football.”

Germany went on to beat England 4-1 in the round of 16 match. The goal that wasn’t awarded would have brought tied the game at 2-2 late in the first half, likely changing the strategy of both teams.