Sporting play in football
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sporting play in football seems to happen less and less these days, which makes it all the more pleasing to hear how Nottingham Forest were given a 'free goal' in their replayed Carling Cup tie with Leicester City. The original second-round game between the two sides was abandoned with Forest leading 1-0 at half-time after City's Clive Clarke suffered heart failure. Sportingly, City allowed Forest keeper Paul Smith to score straight from the kick-off to replicate the scoreline.
Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric said: "This will not hurt football, I'm proud of the players and happy we did it." He added: "The idea came from the whole club - we all like to win games but morality and fairness is also important. "It was a difficult situation, but it was the right thing to do."
Leicester boss Gary Megson said: "I had a chat with Forest manager Colin Calderwood 20 minutes before the kick-off to explain what we had in mind but it was kept very quiet until just before the start." Calderwood added: "Leicester felt it was the correct thing to do and I must admit it took us back a little bit to start with. But it was an honourable gesture and I would like to think that football in general has come out of the game as the winner. I think the crowd took it in the spirit it was intended."
And even more funny - the Forest keeper now holds the record for the quickest goal scored in the Carling Cup!
Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric said: "This will not hurt football, I'm proud of the players and happy we did it." He added: "The idea came from the whole club - we all like to win games but morality and fairness is also important. "It was a difficult situation, but it was the right thing to do."
Leicester boss Gary Megson said: "I had a chat with Forest manager Colin Calderwood 20 minutes before the kick-off to explain what we had in mind but it was kept very quiet until just before the start." Calderwood added: "Leicester felt it was the correct thing to do and I must admit it took us back a little bit to start with. But it was an honourable gesture and I would like to think that football in general has come out of the game as the winner. I think the crowd took it in the spirit it was intended."
And even more funny - the Forest keeper now holds the record for the quickest goal scored in the Carling Cup!
2 comments:
Phil Lewis
said...
September 19, 2007 4:01 pm
What else would you have expected? It was Leicester after all - the cream of the football crop - gentlemen of gentlemen ! Us Leicester lot know how to behave you know!!!! Well, sometimes at least.
Paula x
Wings of Eagles
said...
September 19, 2007 5:28 pm
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Did you see my comment on this? (see my blog). Would've netted you a tidy sum, putting a bet on the forest keeper to score first!