Was it over the line? The other end from 1966

The most difficult moment for the match officials at Wembley on Saturday was the extra time incident when Ryan Giggs slid the ball (and Petr Cech) into the Chelsea goal. Several things happened in the space of about 2 seconds for Steve Bennett to deal with and on the whole he got them right. Rooney's side footed cross was stunningly accurate and Giggs, from 2 or 3 yards out, should have scored. Penalty! cried Man Utd when Michael Essien appeared to foul Giggs from behind. But in fact Giggs was starting his sliding movement towards the ball when Essien made his challenge and was already at ground level. Next, Giggs connected (poorly) with the ball and stroked it straight at Cech, who gathered on the line. Giggs' forward momentum carried him into Cech and took him and the ball forwards. TV replays appear to show that the ball might have been completely over the line, but it was impossible, with the two players wrapped up in a jumble, for Bennett or the linesman to see the ball. So no goal could be given. If Bennett had seen the ball over the line, he would probable have penalised Giggs for a foul, as Cech had the ball in his possession when Giggs slid into him. As it was, I believe Bennett felt the ball was still in play and he waved play on. Bennett's a Kentish man like myself so I'm delighted for him. He handled the game extremely well, even if it blood pressures were never really very high, apart from mine when Drogba tapped in near the end.