An FA Spokesman after the game absolved the linesman of any responsibility for the apparently mistaken decision not to award a goal to Spurs after a shot from the halfway line crossed the goal line by at least a metre.

"The shot came from an unusual distance and as such caught the linesman out position forcing him to race back towards the goal as plat developed. As he ran, the United scarf he was wearing under his shirt came loose and fluttered up into his face obscuring his view and preventing him from making the call. It was just one of those things".

In response to further questions from the Press the spokeman explained "If they don't already have a United tattoo most officials on game day try to wear a scarf or a replica shirt under their regulation kit to show their support for the worlds greatest club. The linesman in this case had chosen to wear a United scarf, a common choice that is inkeepinf with FA guidelines. The root cause of the problem lies not with the linesman but with the players and management of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club who broke one of the most important unwritten rules of the English FA : They placed a shot on target at Old Trafford. Martin Jol is new to this country and perhaps he's not yet familiar with some of our finer traditions. Fortunately if he doesn't yet understand that for the greater good of the game visiting teams, by tradition, are not expected to try to score at Old Trafford then our officials are in a position to help Mr Jol make that cultural adjustment".

Chuckling to himself the FA spokesman added "The goal had to be disallowed to avoid us desending down a slippery slope that would be bad for the national game. It's a fine line officials have to walk. If they award a goal this week, next week someone might expect a penalty or ask the Van Nistelrooy be booked for diving. Can you imagine that? That would just not do - shocking, just the thought of it..."