Reading drew 2-2 with Watford, by scoring their first goal in a very controversial manner; it never even passed the line!

Since then, Steve Coppell, the Reading manager, has revealed he would be prepared for the match to be replayed if the Football League decides it be the best course of action.

But what do you think should happen? Should the game sportingly be replayed? Or should Reading be allowed to keep the point they earned by actually LOSING the game 2-1???

I think it should be replayed, especially seeing as the club that have gained from this mess, has already opted to replay the game. Which nowadays is a very strong act of sportsmanship, seeing as we don't see much of it nowadays.

Make the most of this video because the Football League have gone on a C&D riot on most of the vids, and it'll only be a matter of time before this one will be too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_mY3xkMD5I

That has to be the worst refereeing error I've ever seen in my life, it's truly shocking, so yes, the game should be replayed, as long as the referee and assistant refs are replaced.

Unfortunately the Football League have ruled out a replay, therefore the controversial 2-2 draw will stand.

It's not on, I swear - I feel sorry for Watford!

No.

It was an absolutely dreadful decision, a total embarrasment to the officials involved. But the referees decisions have to be final and binding whether they are right or worng. Replaying the game would set an impossible precedent, other teams would more than likely start asking for replays for a variety of reasons citing the replaying Watford Reading match.

For example, imagine if Chelsea and Man Utd went into the final match of the season level on points, Chelsea won their match but Man Utd only drew after the award of a controversial goal, lets say because an opposing player scored from an offside position, denying Utd the championship, you could gaurantee Sir Alex would then then demand a replay.

That's what the Football League stated when they ruled out a replay - something to do with the referee's word being final and binding once the game has restarted.

At the time this is what the ideal solution would have been;

either

1. Reading could have just stood aside stand and let Watford score from the kick-off straight after the goal to let them get back level.

or

2. If Reading didnt realise what had happened straight away, they must have found out at half-time, so again they could have stood back and let Watford score from the kick-off to start the second half.

That way everybody would be happy and a replay wouldn't have been neccesary, but obviously its too late now, nothing can be done. There was a famous incident in 2004 when Yeovil let Plymouth score in similar circustances, I have seen it on TV before, but I can't find a vid online right now, this is what happened;

What happened 28 minutes into the game though will be talked about at Huish Park for years. Graham Coughlin had just received treatment for the visitors and with the ball having been kicked out of play, Yeovil prepared to do the traditional act of sportsmanship by returning the ball. As the throw-in was taken, Lee JOHNSON belted the ball 50 yards up field towards the opposition goal, only to find that visiting keeper Luke McCormick had inexplicably gone walkabout and was wide on the edge of his area. Almost in slow motion, the ball bobbled into the empty net with McCormick never looking likely to make up the lost ground.

With referee Mr Penton having to award the goal, Lee stood shrugging his shoulders with his hands held open almost saying to those on the field "what do I do now?" - the answer came from a fatherly figure in the dugout, who after exchanging a short conversation with assistant Steve Thompson and opposite number Bobby Williamson, ensured that the ultimate step in sportsmanship was allowed to be executed. Straight from kick-off, Stevie CRAWFORD saw the Yeovil players step aside and wave him through, with goalkeeper Chris Weale turning his back on the ball as Crawford dribbled the ball into the empty net. 1-1 and both sides could get the real game going again.

http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/fixtures/08 ... h-home.htm

Something similar happened in a match between Forest and Leicester last season. Forest were winning 1-0 until one of Leicester's players collapsed on the pitch, causing the match to be abandoned.

At the very start of the replay, Leicester very sportingly allowed the Forest goalkeeper to walk with the ball to an empty goal and recover their 1-0 lead from the original game.

Forest still lost the match though!