Officials Instructed At Half Time To Make Amends To QPR For Ghost Goal

Who gave the order? I don't know. But the officials knew they had got it very badly wrong before the break, with the linesman clearly saying "I didn't see it was over the line" because players were in the way.

So what happened at half time? The FA made a statement DURING the game that goal line technology would be introduced as soon as possible, increasing the pressure on the officials by publicly recognising that a grave error had been made. Did Atkinson receive a call on his mobile phone? Was an instruction given to even things up by favouring QPR in any crucial 60:40 decisions in the second half? Don't cheat as such, but exercise "judgement" to defuse the controversy by making amends. Or did the officials put their heads together and arrive at that decision themselves?

How else can you explain the decision to allow Cisse's equaliser? I can understand an official missing the ghost goal, I knew it had happened but in real time I didn't spot it, and the MOTD commentator yelled "Hit the bar", failing to spot that the ball had crossed the line. However, Cisse was three yards off side and, as quick as he is, wasn't moving at the same speed as the ball following Hill's header. He's also easier to spot, being a big black unit in bright orange with a stupid hairstyle. Again, I knew that Cisse had scored an offside goal, but I didn't believe it was this one! It was impossible not to see he was offside!

Of course Hughes forgot about that when he moaned about the disallowed Hill goal. But actually, the second goal should have been more decisive than the first. Coming so soon after half time, it undermined Coyle's half time talk and gave all the impetus to QPR. But even with that helping hand, Hughes' charges were unable to take anything from the game.

All the noise centres on the Hill "goal" but the Cisse "goal" was even more outrageous in my book. Hughes can have no complaints, except that his defence are hopeless. But whose fault is that? He signed Nedum and decided to prioritise other areas of the team, even though that meant playing Anton in the centre of defence.

As for the Cisse goal, Atkinson and his officials should be investigated because I suspect rules may have been deliberately bent; how else do you explain the failure to spot a big black guy in fluorescent orange three yards offside? The trouble is, the rule bending may well have been on instruction from the FA or Premier League and they are not going to finger themselves are they - as ex public school boys they have fags to do that for them!

So perhaps the police should be called in for an independent investigation. Perhaps somebody should get hold of Atkinson's mobile phone records. Where is "The News of the World" when you need it?