29 Oct 2013

'Phantom goal' game will not be replayed

6:34 am on 29 October 2013

Last week's German football game that swung on a phantom goal will not be replayed despite the ball going in through a hole in the netting.

Hoffenheim's appeal over their 2-1 Bundesliga loss to Bayer Leverkusen has been rejected by Germany's sports court, in a decision the court admits may not be satisfactory to fans.

The court says despite a header flying wide but going through a hole in the side netting to end up in the goal, the game won't be replayed because at no point was there a violation of the rules by the referee.

The court says while the factual decision may have been wrong, that's part of the system.

Hoffenheim have the right to appeal court's decision within one week and the club says they're reviewing their options.