Watch ‘controversial’ and bizarre disallowed Fulham goal – ‘I’ve never seen anything like that!’
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There was a moment of controversy during Fulham’s FA Cup clash with Southampton when referee Jarred Gillett disallowed what appeared to be a perfectly good goal.
Fulham thought they had taken the lead when Saints goalkeeper Daniel Peretz directed a quick goal kick straight into the back of his team-mate, Ryan Manning.
The rebound then sailed straight into the back of the net, but the eagle-eyed Gillett had already blown the whistle, denying Fulham an early lead to the disapproval of the home crowd.
TNT Sports commentator Sam Matterface was left bemused by the decision.
“The ball is in the net here,” said Matterface. “The ball cannoned off the back of the defender, and it went ricocheting towards the goal, and it has gone straight into the net.
“Now I think the whistle went before the ball went into the net here. This is going to be a controversial decision because there was no Fulham involvement here.”
The entertaining first half at Craven Cottage finished goalless.
The goal appeared to be disallowed because the ball was moving when Peretz’s goal kick was taken.
Law 16 of the IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26 states that the ball can’t be moving when a goal kick takes place.
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“The ball must be stationary and is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team,” state the rules of the game.
Matterface’s fellow TNT Sports commentator Adam Virgo was quick to recognise that the referee had disallowed the goal for that reason.
“Maybe the ball was still rolling, I have never seen anything like that,” said Virgo. “It looks like the ball is still moving.”
Matterface questioned the rules of the game after the crucial goal was disallowed, pointing out that it was Peretz’s decision to take a quick goal kick in the first place.
“That is why he has then blown the whistle and said that they are going to retake the goal kick,” added Matterface.
“However, it was his choice to hit it, they have conceded the goal as a result of that. I think the referee will say that he blew the whistle before the ball went into the net.”
Fulham came into the clash in 10th place in the Premier League table, while Southampton are eighth in the Championship.
Port Vale will host Sunderland and Leeds United will take on Norwich City in Sunday’s other FA Cup fifth round ties, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+