Cardiff City coaching staff said one of the goals was two inches higher than the permitted height at their away clash with Wigan Athletic – but caretaker manager Mark Hudson was told the problem could take two hours to investigate.
By Siba Jackson, news reporter
Sunday 9 October 2022 13:12, UK
A Championship football match was delayed after it was claimed the goals were two different sizes, sparking calls for an investigation.
Cardiff City coaching staff suggested one of the goals was two inches higher than the permitted 8ft ahead of their away clash with Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.
The game kicked off seven minutes late as Cardiff caretaker manager, Mark Hudson, tried to raise the issue – but agreed the match should go ahead after being told it would take up to two hours to investigate.
Cardiff went on to win the match 3-1, with their third goal hitting the underside of the apparent taller crossbar before going in.
Hudson said: “A couple of the lads thought there was an issue with the size of the goals.
“One of the goals was too high by a couple of inches.
“We flagged it straight away, and then they had to recalibrate it because of Hawk-Eye (the operator of the Premier League’s goal line technology system), I think.
“We were initially told we’d have to wait a couple of hours for it to sink another couple of inches, but no one wanted that.
“We decided to continue with it, and it was the same for both sides.
“I did ask if we could attack that end in both halves but they weren’t having that.”
Wigan boss Leam Richardson said it was another example of “the way things are going” for his team, who have yet to win at home.
“One of the goals was two inches too high, and their third goal goes in off the bar… so you do the maths,” Richardson said.
“It just sums up the day for us, doesn’t it.”
According to The Sun newspaper, the goals are dismantled by Wigan ground staff at the end of each game before being re-erected ahead of the next match.
Cardiff won despite goal scorer Callum Robinson being forced to leave the pitch due to an injury ahead of half time.
Richardson said he was “disappointed” with the result but acknowledged the rival side were “more clinical”.
“Fair play to Cardiff, and congratulations to them for the win,” he said.
Championship football match played despite claim one goal was bigger than the other – Sky News
Leave a comment
