I may have erred over Spanish 'goal', says official

UGANDAN assistant referee Ali Tomusange, who officiated at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, said yesterday he may have made a mistake when he disallowed Spain's extra-time goal against South Korea.

Spain were eventually defeated 5-3 after a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals last month, but had two goals controversially disallowed during the match. Spanish Football Federation president Angel Maria Villar resigned from FIFA’s referees’ commission afterwards, saying refereeing errors had condemned Spain to a premature exit from the World Cup.

When asked whether he wrongfully disallowed the goal headed in by Fernando Morientes, Tomusange said: “I may have made a mistake when I raised my flag and disallowed the goal.”