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UEFA orders soccer match to be restarted after referee error

NYON (Switzerland) — For the first time in its history, UEFA has ordered a soccer match to be restarted because of a referee’s error.

Official soccer balls with the logo of the 2012 Champions League final are seen on the pitch during a practice session in Munich March 12, 2012. Photo: Reuters

Official soccer balls with the logo of the 2012 Champions League final are seen on the pitch during a practice session in Munich March 12, 2012. Photo: Reuters

NYON (Switzerland) — For the first time in its history, UEFA has ordered a soccer match to be restarted because of a referee’s error.

UEFA has ordered the final seconds of a women’s Under-19 European Championship qualifier between England and Norway to be replayed tomorrow (April 10, Singapore time), starting with a stoppage-time penalty and a new referee.

The governing body of European soccer said today that its disciplinary committee has never before issued such a ruling.

With Norway leading 2-1 on Saturday in Belfast, England scored from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of injury time but it was disallowed when an England player encroached. However, German referee Marija Kurtes then wrongly awarded a free kick to Norway instead of retaking the penalty.

The English Football Association protested.

UEFA regulations uphold protests in cases of “an obvious violation of a rule by the referee that had a decisive influence on the final result of the match.”

Play will resume at 2045 GMT in Belfast, after Norway and England play other group matches earlier today.

The retaken penalty could decide which team advances to the final tournament. AP

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