The goal was controversial and decided the final of the Women’s Cup.
Judge Sarah Pearson, 45, is speaking to the media for the first time after the decision.
– I fully trust my assistant referee and make the decision on the case, she tells Sportbladet.
Rosengård’s winning goal, 2-1, against Häcken in Thursday’s cup final came in the 109th minute of extra time. But the goal was controversial at least because there are no photos to show that the full ball from Stephanie Sanders from the home team was actually over Jennifer Falk’s goal line.
Since Thursday’s cup final, referee Sarah Pearson has yet to give her view on the goal, events and comments afterwards in the media.
Now you choose to answer Sportbladet’s questions.
How do you see the situation when Rosengard 2-1 goal?
– Under the extremely difficult situation in the penalty area, the demand for cooperation and intense communication within the referee team increases. It’s going incredibly fast as everyone can see it. In my team, says Sarah Pearson, I want open, clear, and fast communication.
What makes you take the decision in the case?
– In the decision-making process, I work a lot with my team. I get immediate information from my assistant Gilan (Tahir) that the ball crossed the line. You communicate in a simple and clear way, just as we are expected to do.
“working together”
– I don’t see if the ball crossed the line despite the good position and proximity. The one who sees this best is my assistant.
If you’re not quite sure as the lead judge – why shouldn’t you avoid making the decision then?
In a referee team, it’s about working together and daring to trust each other. I have worked a lot with Gilan both nationally and internationally. We are a safe team with strength that makes us trust each other. This makes me decide that the ball was in the goal.
Are you still sure the ball was all in the goal?
– If we made the right decision, you can guess, even after the replay and still images, there’s no telling we did the right thing – or wrong. We adhered to the instructions that we have in the way we work. Every now and then we have to believe we’re doing the right thing.
Shouldn’t many on the referee team be safe (to judge the goals) when it’s the cup final?
– I support the decision. I also can’t let the level of the match be determined. We can’t have time to think whether it will be wrong or right because it is a cup final. My assistant is positioned correctly and it communicates the way I want it to.
The referee team received heavy criticism from Haken after the match.
“I don’t think this linear referee is good enough to judge damallsvenskan and I hope you won’t judge again,” said coach Robert Villahamn.
– I am very angry. I said she’d make up her mind, said guard Jennifer Falk.
Sarah Pearson:
I fully understand the frustration and disappointment that you are losing a match. I explained on the pitch after the match why I made the decision and how we actually worked.
close the door
The sad thing is that you as a player but above all as a leader cross the border and lose respect. You use words to describe how bad our efforts are without trying to listen and understand what I’m trying to explain. Saying that I don’t communicate with them is not true.
– When it comes to suggestions from players and leaders in the media, I think they should take responsibility for what they say and how.
Another moment after the final whistle, twice named Sweden Referee of the Year Sarah Persson, and her referee team chose not to discuss anything further with the Haken captains and players.
My door is always open, and most players and leaders know that. But if you stood up and screamed and kicked my door, most people would probably understand why we didn’t open up for a chat. It is sad that we have to escort the guards to our cars to leave the square.
We’ve heard a lot of comments from people expressing hatred for me and my team. It’s sad that the guards are allowed to physically interfere. Where else work is okay?
On the verge of illegal
– I received many messages about my efforts in a sad way. The guild was aware of this because they were on the limit.
Why were you late in answering any questions?
– It’s a simple answer. When the situation became what it was and the guild security officer was involved, the message was that I would wait to speak. The head of security in the union wanted to keep track of the situation, what happened and who was involved.
Is video assistive technology the rescue to avoid such situations?
– It’s a good tool for me as a judge. It’s not quite perfect yet and there is a lot of work on it but it is getting better. Sarah Pearson says that of course it was nice to be off the field and know that in certain situations I had the opportunity to make the right decision.
