Officials 'wrong' to deny Johnson

It was also a rare mistake from one of the Premier League's most accomplished assistant referees, Glenn Turner, who has officiated at the World Cup.

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The controversial incident, in which Everton were denied victory instead of a goalless draw at Blackburn, was being investigated on Monday.

Johnson's effort was disallowed because Turner believed there was only one Blackburn player between the striker and the goal.

However, replays show two defenders were playing Johnson onside, meaning Turner was wrong to flag.

Referee Alan Wiley is not being held accountable for the error, having disallowed the goal on Turner's advice.

Wiley had also been criticised for not giving a second yellow card to Blackburn's David Dunn for a deliberate hand-ball in midfield. But there is no automatic caution for such an offence unless it denies a scoring opportunity.

There were suggestions after the game that the offside law, which has become complex over judgments on whether attackers are 'active' or not, was not understood and administered by the officials at Ewood Park.

However, the refereeing authorities are said to be satisfied that disallowing the goal was simply a misjudgment, however galling that may have been for Everton.