10 Most Controversial Premier League Moments

10. Pedro Mendes’ Effort Ruled Out To Spare Carroll’s Blushes

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pedro Mendes’ looping shot from just inside Manchester United’s half with two minutes on the clock caught Red Devils’ goalkeeper Roy Carroll napping.

As the shaken Northern Irish shot-stopper scampered back towards goal, he set himself ready to make the save. However, Carroll failed miserably in his attempt to catch the ball, subsequently letting it squirm out of his grasp and way, way, beyond his line.

Astonishingly, the officials disallowed Mendes’ perfectly good strike, leading to howls of derision from the disbelieving Old Trafford crowd, as the score somehow remained at 0-0.

Spurs boss Martin Jol and his players were livid. Even the usually biased Sir Alex Ferguson offered sympathy in the wake of the contest, having realised that the goal was legitimate.

This incident proved to be one of the catalysts in the push for the eventual advent of goal-line technology.