Chesterfield v. Droylsden controversy

[Gromit]

The FA Cup witnessed one the most bizarre passages of play in its 137-year history last night, as the second round tie between Chesterfield and Non-League Droylsden ended in a storm of controversy.

A row erupted in the 79th minute of the match, when, with the match delicately poised at 1-1, the Blue Square North side put the ball out of play after an injury to their striker Carl Lamb. However, when the ball was thrown back into play rather than return it to the non-league side, Jack Lester, the Chesterfield striker, lobbed the unprepared Craig Mawson, the Droylsden goalkeeper, from 30 yards to spark a row that held the match up for five minutes.

Lee Richardson, the Chesterfield manager, eventually defused the situation by ordering his players to allow Steve Halford to walk the ball into an empty net from the restart to give Droylsden a deserved replay.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/footbal l/football_league/article5317985.ece

2 - 1 up and ten minutes to go. Do you agree that the Chesterfield manager made a very noble gesture...

...or was he stupid. There is nothing in the rules about having to give the ball back after it has been put out for an injurred play.

[DrFilth]

F.A. Cup. In February 1999, Sheffield United travelled to N5 for a Fifth Round tie. midfielder Lee Morris went down following a crunching challenge with Patrick Vieira, Sheffield United kicked the ball out of play to ensure he received treatment. Ray Parlour went to throw the ball down the line back to the United keeper. But Kanu, making his home debut, unwittingly walked into the path of the ball. Kanu seemed unsure what to do until the scurrying figure of Overmars began scampering into the penalty area. Having seen his team mate encourage play to continue, Kanu delivered a low cross which Overmars duly converted.Steve Bruce was apoplectic with rage, ordering the officials to disallow the goal. However, match official Steve Dunn`s hands were tied by red tape as Arsenal had violated a gentlemen`s agreement rather than a bona fide rule. Bruce ordered his players to leave the pitch in disgust, before acquiescing to let the game continue, Arsenal going onto win 2-1 amidst moral crisis.

Arsenal`s rebuttal was swift; Arsene Wenger and David Dein immediately fronted the national media and offered Sheffield United a rematch which Bruce gratefully accepted. Kanu was quick to apologise and plead ignorance; however Overmars, was the real villain The result was declared void by the F.A. at Arsenal`s request and the match was replayed ten days later, with Arsenal admitting all supporters at half price. It is

[mightyWBA]

It was indeed a noble gesture (actually having seen it I think it was an extravagant pass back gone wrong)
What makes me smile is that when cheats like Gerrard,Yakubu,Ronaldo etc. fall over in the 18 yard box ,due to a localised change in atmospheric pressure,or tripping over an earthworm, nobody feels the need to make a noble gesture in deliberatley missing the penalty.

[wonkon-wonk]

noble gesture ...................
Droylsden manager got right up my nose .
i didn't like his Ian Hislop type face either!

[mightyWBA]

The Droylsden manager is a bit of a clown.
It would be great if he was like that in front of someone like Neil Warnock,Joe Kinnear or the late Roy Keane :-)

[lesblue]

Noble gesture. This happened a few years back when Gary Johnson was manager at Yeovil. I think that was a Cup match, too. Similar sequence of events, if I remember correctly.

[Stephen_G]

You're right, lesblue.

Yeovil v Plymouth Argyle, at Huish Park. Argyle put the ball out and Lee Johnson passed it back to the totally unpreepared keeper who could only watch it sail into the back of the old onion bag. Stevie Crawford was allowed to take the ball from the resulting kick-off and slot home the equaliser. The mighty Glovers took the game 3 - 2 after extra-time.

http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/fixtures/0804-cc1- plymouth-home.htm