Referee Trevor Kettle found himself in the midst of a storm of controversy at Kingsmeadow on Saturday, with the official blowing his whistle for half-time just as an Accrington Stanley shot was headed for the corner of the AFC Wimbledon net.
The incident occurred when visitors Stanley were pressing for the opening goal, with striker Billy Kee turning in the Dons’ box before firing a goal-bound effort past ‘keeper Kelle Roos.
However, when the ball was in transit towards the goal, ref Kettle decided to blow for half-time, pushing the Stanley players to boiling point…
Got to feel for Accrington Stanley. This goal didn’t stand as the referee blew the half-time whistle… Fuming. pic.twitter.com/7hcLZ49ue6
— FourFourTweet (@FourFourTweet) March 5, 2016
Surely Kettle should’ve waited for the ball to cross the line? Anyway, unsurprisingly, Accrington manager John Coleman was less than impressed, telling BBC Radio Lancashire:
I’m delighted with the way we played but sometimes the luck doesn’t go with you.
I’ve never seen anything like it happen [the disallowed goal] in all my 46 years playing and managing.
He blew as the ball was on its way into the net. You can’t account for that. Everyone in the ground is flabbergasted.
Referees make mistakes because they’re only human and that’s what makes the game of football so special because you have talking points and arguments.
The game would ultimately end goalless, with Stanley ‘keeper Ross Etheridge seeing red during the game.
Still, what a pedantic decision from Kettle.