Ascoli 'Fair Play' goal investigated
An investigation is underway after Ascoli stood by and allowed Reggina to score in a gesture of ‘Fair Play.’
There were chaotic scenes and a moral conundrum during Saturday’s game at Ascoli’s Stadio Del Duca.
Reggina player Carlos Valdez pulled a muscle and tried to put the ball out of play so he could be stretchered off.
However, probably not realising the intention, Vincenzo Sommese intercepted it and rushed forward to set up the opening goal.
Reggina were furious and in the ensuing melee had Costa sent off for striking Sommese.
Ascoli decided to ‘rectify’ the error of judgment by effectively giving their opponents a goal, so when play resumed, the entire team stood still and allowed Pagano to walk into an empty net.
Despite playing with 10 men for over an hour, Reggina went on to win the match 3-1.
“We made the decision all together, there is no single person responsible for it,” explained Ascoli Coach Bepi Pillon.
Some fans were angry that relegation-threatened Ascoli had chosen to level the scores in this manner.
“We were locked in the changing rooms for two hours after the game to avoid the protests. There is too much exasperation in Italy, too many interests that force you to look only at the results. It’s not fun like this.”
Naturally, there is also an investigation into what exactly happened and whether it constitutes fair play or an illegal move.
It also raises the question of whether it was the referee’s job to halt play in that instance for the injured player to receive treatment and, as he did not blow the whistle, should it be considered a perfectly valid goal?
http://www.football-italia.net/dec6i.html
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I've always thought that in a similar situation I would do the same, although I can see why they are angry. I would be more angry that my team had lost 3-1 to a team with ten men though.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk6iGgbKOmA