Ah, but anywhere else on the pitch it wouldn't have been a foul as he played the ball first before contact with the player, all within one motion - therefore technically its not a foul, or wouldn't be any where else on the pitch, and therefore if the ball crossed the line it should have been a goal by the letter of the laws of the game as no foul has been committed and therefore its the defensive players fault for carrying the ball over the line.


Admittedly no ref in modern football would give it as goalkeepers are so protected these days, and I'd be damn pissed off if it had been given against us, but technically, following the letter of the law, it was a goal as the tackle itself didn't constitute a foul as the ball was played first.

As no foul was awarded by the ref then clearly he believed that none had been committed and thus the goal should have stood as it crossed the line clearly.


End of the day one thing it wasn't was keepers ball/goal kick - either give the foul or award the goal - to do neither is not an option in that situation as he is saying that a) giggs didn't commit a foul and b) the ball didnt cross the line - whichever way you look at it that is incorrect.


As a Utd fan I'd obviously say that the ref was correct in that no foul was given and therefore it was a goal ;).


End of the day though such is life, and it would have been a brave ref to give it in this day and age, especially in such a high profile game, regardless of the what the actual rules of the game state.