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Berne: A Euro 2008 controversy broke out on Monday over Ruud van Nistelrooy's first goal for Netherlands against Italy with referees and players arguing about an interpretation of the offside law.
Van Nistelrooy scored in the 26th minute of his team's 3-0 Group C win in Berne, turning a fierce drive from Wesley Sneijder past keeper Gianluigi Buffon from close range.
Video replays showed him in what looked a blatant offside position, but later there was confusion about whether Italy defender Christian Panucci had played the Dutch striker onside.
Panucci fell and went off the field of play behind the byline after clashing with other players in the preceding goalmouth scramble and was lying injured on his back when the ball went in.
Austrian referees' commission chairman Gerhard Kapl was quoted as saying the goal was correctly awarded.
"The injured player behind the goal counts as a player on the field and therefore it was not offside," said Kapl.
Experts quoted on various TV networks seemed unable to point to a rule in Fifa's laws of the game which could clarify the position. However, Uefa's secretary-general David Taylor confirmed yesterday the decision was correct.
"There is no matter for debate," he said.
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