London, July 2 (IANS) The wife of linesman Mauricio Espinosa, who wrongly disallowed British footballer Frank Lampard’s goal against Germany in the World Cup, says she ‘couldn’t believe his decision’.
‘We knew it was a goal. I couldn’t believe his decision,’ said Sandra Perez Espinosa.
She wept and shouted at her TV: ‘No, no, Mauricio, you’re wrong!’
She said her husband arrived home in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday night and he had ‘hardly spoken’ as he was depressed, The Sun reported Friday.
‘The instant the ball went in, we knew it was a goal. I couldn’t believe his decision. I felt so bad for him,’ she said.
When Espinosa was later shown the replay at half-time, he put his head in his hands and groaned: ‘Oh, my God.’
England lost 4-1 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Sunday.
Apparently referee Jorge Larrionda asked Espinosa four times whether it was a goal and Espinosa ruled that Lampard’s strike did not cross the line.
Quoting sources, the media report said that Larrionda believed the ball had crossed the line and he asked Espinosa four times: ‘Mauricio, are you completely sure it wasn’t a goal?’
Each time Espinosa replied: ‘The ball didn’t enter the goal, I am sure of it.’
