TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 CITY 3
League Division 1
10th February 1973
attendance 30,944
scorers
City Marsh(19), Lee(54 & 75)
Spurs Chivers(33 & 80)
Ref Norman Burtenshaw
City Corrigan, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Jeffries, Summerbee, Bell, Marsh, Lee, Towers – sub Oakes(unused)
Spurs Jennings, Kinnear, Knowles, Pratt, England, Beal, Gilzean, Perryman, Chivers, Peters, Pearce – sub Coates(76)
A controversial error in refereeing by Norman Burtenshaw ultimately gave a tight game to City when he allowed Francis Lee’s second goal to stand after the Blues’ striker put the ball into the net with his hand.
City took the lead in the 19th minute when Rodney Marsh picked up the ball outside the Spurs penalty area his low shot was saved by Jennings, however when the ball rebounded off the keeper, Marsh pounced on it again and managed to poke the ball home under pressure from the Spurs defence.
Just after the half hour Spurs equalised when Tommy Booth misread a ball slung in by Perryman and Chivers ran in to score from six yards.
Nine minutes into the second half Lee put City back in front scoring from three yards after some great work by Marsh.
Lee scored again with a quarter of an hour to go before Chivers grabbed a consolation goal.
But it was City’s third goal that caused all the controversy. Tony Book crossed and Lee stooped to head the ball in, but used his hand instead.
The Tottenham players protested strongly to Mr Burtenshaw, Martin Peters was booked for grabbing the official, Peters afterwards saying “I thought it was a diabolical decision. I am sure everyone in the ground, apart from the referee and his linesmen saw Franny handle the ball.”
When interviewed after the game Francis Lee openly said “The ball did strike my hand as I scored the third goal. It’s no use telling lies, it was handball. I slipped as I went in to head Tony Book’s cross and my hand caught the ball. I couldn’t blame Spurs for protesting to the referee, I’d have been furious if I’d have been on their side, but that’s football. The referee can only give what he sees and his linesman also signalled a goal. Why should I apologise to anyone?”
Under pressure from the press, who thought he should have admitted to the ref he used his hand to score, Francis Lee used his Monday Morning column in the Daily Mirror to state his point of view; “No, I’m not suffering pangs of conscience about my act of grand larceny against Spurs at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
And before you howl ‘Cheat’ let me explain why I didn’t confess to the referee that I’d scored a false winner with my hand. If I had come clean, I would have been letting down my team-mates and my club. In the grim business of professional football goals are jewels and if you have the chance of pinching an illegal one you are bound to do it. A cynical outlook? Not if, like me, you’re convinced that many attackers pot a dozen or more legitimate goals a season that are wrongly disallowed.
… I feel sorry for the referee Norman Burtenshaw. My after match confession exposed him to ridicule though he had done his job to the best of his ability.”