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The height of the door is measured under the observation of assistants and photographers. Image: keystone
Too high a goal in St. Gallen: why the international match started late
How embarrassing! The start of the World Cup qualifying match between Switzerland and Lithuania in St. Gallen (1-0) was delayed on Sunday night. The curious reason: a goal did not have the dimensions that conformed to the regulations. As the referees’ measurements showed, it was around 2.50 meters tall instead of the 2.44 meters it should be. The game started 18 minutes later than planned.
I beg your pardon?!
“Before the warm-up, the refereeing team re-measured the goals and determined that everything was in compliance with the rules,” Adrian Arnold, SFV media director, told SRF during the game’s half-time break. “Towards the end of the warm-up, our goalkeeping coach Patrick Foletti noticed that a goal was too high on one side. So they measured it again and found it had to be replaced. ”
The UEFA delegate told him that this often happens when the goalkeeper is shot, Arnold said. The Swiss Football Association may receive a fine due to the delay.
SRF reporter Sascha Ruefer amused the scene. Video: SRF
That’s what the players say
After Switzerland’s lackluster 1-0 win, goalkeeper Yann Sommer was in a good mood. In the SRF interview, the 1.83m-long goalkeeper said he was glad if the mistake was noticed in time: “At my size, it’s devastating if the goal is too high.” He did not even notice. The team easily got over the delay: “We are flexible and we have taken it well.”
Xherdan Shaqiri, the only scorer at Kybunpark that night, was amazed that “that can happen at this level too. But then we could still play. “
The drama in pictures
We are working on a door …
images: srf
… and measured on the other door
My God, it’s too high!
Then the door has to go …
Well, it wasn’t broken!
Meanwhile, teams have to wait
Then: Everything is finally correct!
With a good quarter of an hour late it begins
Already in minute 2 the team applauded Xherdan Shaqiri’s 1-0
Image: keystone
By the way, the span is not unique. In 1997, FC Sion lost 1-0 in the European Cup at Spartak Moscow, but lodged a protest. The reason: a door was only 2.32 meters instead of 2.44 meters high. The protest was successful, the game was rescheduled, and Sion was again defeated by the Russians. (RAM)
Hach, back then:
THANKS FOR THE ♥
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