Ball crosses goalline by two feet – but referee’s blunder leaves players fuming

Pedro Mendes, eat your heart out.

Qarabag's players couldn't believe their eyes on Thursday evening after the referee in their Europa Conference League tie failed to award them a goal despite the ball being two feet over the goalline.

The Azerbaijani minnows were drawing 0-0 at Basel in their Group H decider when the incredible mistake occurred.

With little over a minute gone, forward Ibrahima Wadji was fed in down the right-hand side and broke into the box.

He played the ball across the area, but the Basel defenders were unable to clear their lines.

It fell to Abdellah Zoubir, who ghosted in at the back post and smashed a powerful effort towards goal from eight yards out.

His effort was blocked by a Basel defender – who was clearly a couple of yards behind the goalline.

Zoubir and his Qarabag team-mates lifted their arms in the air believing they had taken the lead in the contest.

Is this the worst disallowed goal you've ever seen? Let us know in the comments section.

But referee Fran Jovic of must've mislaid his glasses because he did not award the goal and instead signalled for play to continue.

Cape Verde international Patrick Andrade hammered a second strike over the bar as Zoubir remonstrated with the officials.

Football fans on Twitter felt sympathy with the star's plight as one person said: "Needs to be something in place where if your club or national country are expecting to participate in an international tournament or club domestic competitions then the stadiums need to hit certain criteria. I.e goal technology etc."

While someone else added: "That’s a disgraceful decision. Surely goal line technology should be standard in UEFA competitions?"

A third person asked: "How hasn't he given that, don't referees have watches that buzz when the ball crosses the line??"

The disallowed goal proved costly for Qarabag, who went on to lose the contest 3-0 as Basel qualified from Group H as winners.

Qarabag finished second and will now face a knockout tie for a place in the last-16 of the competition.

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