Friday, May 03, 2002
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Football
It's a pity that the match which produced the `Goal of the Century' also witnessed what would remain the most controversial goal of our times — the `Hand of God' goal by Diego Maradona (see picture) — which helped Argentina into the lead against England in 1986 before the stockily-built wonder himself came up with that amazing gem. It was a third time meeting of the two teams in the World Cup, with England holding the edge at least psychologically, having won the earlier two outings _ 3-1 in Rancagua, Chile, during the 1962 World Cup and again 1-0 enroute to its successful campaign at home. But then, in Mexico, England did look ordinary before it stumbled into the quarterfinal against Argentina, the only unbeaten team left in the topsy-turvy tournament. The first-half, however, saw no goals and only one opportunity which ended in a failure when Beardsley, despite being left with an open net, could only hit the ball into the side netting. It was in the second-half that Maradona really paraded his sublime skills across the pitch like a giant among pygmies. And six minutes after the restart came the first of his two goals in the encounter, one that will be always remembered for the controversy it triggered. Racing down the pitch into the rival half with possession, the Argentine skipper swept the ball into the feet of team-mate Jorge Valdano. And as he continued with his swift progress anticipating the return pass at least two English defenders were already appealing for offside. But the lineman's flat stayed down even as Valdano's centre was deflected by Steve Hodge in the direction of his goal-keeper Peter Shilton. Shilton came off the goalmouth to punch the ball clear and there seemed no way that the stocky Maradona could outjump the lanky English goalkeeper. However, the world could only initially look on in amazement as the ball cannoned into the England net off Maradona beyond the reach of the airborne Shilton. There was no signal from the line once again and the Tunisian referee Ali Ben Naceur straightaway pointed to the centre circle even as the Argentineans went into celebrations. Shilton led a strong English protest against the goal but the Tunisian referee was not to budge. However, action replays showed that Maradona had, in fact, pushed the ball into the England goal with his left hand. And later, with mocking innocence, he said, "It was the Hand of God." England had been clearly robbed as what its press would describe the next day as "the Hand of the Devil." Shilton himself was furious: "There is not a shadow of doubt that Maradona pushed the ball into the net with his hand for the first goal. It's a joke that anybody could believe that he beat me to the ball and headed it into the net. It was a foot above him as the ball came across and the only way he could have reached it was with his hand. All of us accept that his second goal was brilliant. But it does nothing to ease our disappointment about the first goal." Maradona, however, remained calm. "Yes, the ball did go into the England net off my hand. It was not deliberate and so I do not feel guilty of claiming it as a goal. Would any England player have gone to the referee and said, `Don't award the goal. The ball hit my hand.' Of course not." _ A. Vinod
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