Immediately after John Terry made what appeared to be a miracle clearance last night, he sat in the back of the net with a look of resignation - presumably realising the ball had crossed the line. What if (I know he never would, but what if anyway) Terry had gone to the officials and said "Actually it was a goal", could they have awarded it? I also think back to Thierry Henry's infamous handball v Ireland years ago - what if he had gone to the ref then and fessed up?
My view is that once the referee has given a decision only after consultation with one of his fellow officials may he change his mind. Players are not officials.
Don't think so. Referees make decisions and the player is always wrong! Some proof of that is in those rare occasions when a team has been embarrassed by the award of a goal and have stood back to allow the opponents to score in return. Presumably, whatever they thought, the referee stood by his original unjust ruling, unswayed or, simply, stuck with it.
Bit pedantic, but I doubt with all that John Terry had going on at that moment, desperatley trying to get the ball out of the goal, that he noticed it crossed the line.