WERE they robbed? Trevor Francis seemed to think so. His Crystal Palace side were all square with Leeds in the FA Cup and were well on top.

They scored what looked to be a perfectly good goal. It was at least a foot over the line before it was hacked clear.

Unfortunately, the linesman was not Russian and nothing was given.

Leeds built from this and won the game. Francis was a bitter man. Hardly a shock for him, I know, but this time he had reason.

They are not the first and they will not be the last. Bolton fans are still bitter about the goal that never was against Newcastle a few years ago. Had it been allowed, as the cameras showed it should have, the extra two points gained would have saved them from relegation.

Controversially, did Geoff Hurst's shot really cross the line in 1966? I would be shocked if I could get an impartial answer around here but the truth is that it is still hard to tell now. If it had been Germany who had scored exactly the same goal, people's views may have been different.

So what can be done about it? The answer could be video evidence. The fourth official could have access to TV coverage although hopefully without Martin Tyler doing his "I love Liverpool" bit on Sky. He can barely contain his excitement when Liverpool do anything and you half expect him to spontaneously combust when they score.

He could watch the game and notify the ref when he has missed something via the hearing aid the refs seem to wear - (you would have thought it was their eyesight they would work on).

They say it is interfering with the referee but the linesman always lets the ref know if he has seen something the ref has not.

As for it interrupting the flow of the game, that is a price worth paying if it means less controversy.

They use it in rugby league and it does not have a big impact on the flow. They say these things even out over the season but if that is the case, how do you explain the number of penalties Liverpool used to get with John Barnes?

I know it is a major change to the rules but think how many changes there have been in the last 20 years.

The back pass rule, the professional foul and tackling from behind have all been recent changes. The offside rule has changed more times than City's strike force under Keegan.

What difference does one more change make if it means less whingeing from managers after games? Maybe they would have to think of a more valid reason for another embarrassing home defeat or finally figure out how to stop losing.