Petr Cech backs ref on Hazard’s controversial goal

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech
claims referee Anthony Taylor was right not to
rule out Eden Hazard’s controversial equaliser
in the London club’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City.
With the hosts trailing 1-0 in Saturday’s
Premier League game at Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o stole possession
from Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall as he
bounced the ball, enabling Hazard to score.
The laws of the game state that a goalkeeper is
deemed to be in control of the ball when he
bounces it, meaning that the goal should not
have stood.
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay expressed his
disappointment with the decision after the
game, accusing Taylor of a “horrendous error”,
but Cech felt it was not a clear-cut situation.
“It’s always a difficult question, when you lose
control or don’t lose control,” said Cech, who
made his 300th league appearance in the
game.
“What I know is that if you throw the ball to
kick it out, nobody can touch you because it
counts as one motion.
“In terms of bouncing, it’s not one motion, so
it’s totally up to the referee to decide whether
the goalkeeper had control of the ball or not.
“The referee had the perfect view of it, he was
very close and he decided to give it.
“In this case you have to go with the referee.
It’s an unusual situation, but as long as the
referee is happy with it, the goal is in.”