In a Premier League clash between Everton and Liverpool back in 2000, a rather insipid Merseyside derby looked as though it was petering out into a bore 0-0 draw. That was until controversy struck when Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld, (above), went to punt a goalkick up field to probably end the match following a fruitless Everton attack. Instead, the ball cannoned off retreating Toffees player Don Hutchinson's back, ballooned over Westerveld and rolled into the unguarded goal. Everton thought they had scored the most unlikely (and most unusual) of goals but it wasn't to be because referee Graham Poll disallowed the goal and claimed he had blown his whistle for full-time before the ball went in. Replays after the game however proved otherwise. Poll had in fact not blown to end the game and the goal should have stood. After retiring from refereeing, Poll admitted that he made the wrong call at Goodison Park all those years ago, and that, even today, he has to apologise to every Everton fan he ever meets.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
