This May Well Be The Most Bizarre Sport Story You Will Read This Week

The English Under 19 women’s team will have to replay the final minutes of their European Championship qualifier this evening after a mistake made by the referee. The team will take to the pitch in Belfast and play the game from the 96^th minute and may have the chance to qualify as a result. According to reports, the match - played on Saturday - saw England grab a last-gasp penalty in the 96^th minute. England coach, Mo Marley. The side were trailing 2-1 against Norway when they were awarded the spot kick deep into stoppage time. However, when Leah Williamson stepped up to slot home the kick, her goal was disallowed. Referee, Marija Kurtes, did not allow the goal due to what she saw as an encroachment in the area by another English player but, instead of ruling for the penalty to be retaken - as per the rules - she instead awarded a free-kick to Norway. Today, though, UEFA released a statement reading: “We originally wrote that Norway had qualified. “But on 8 April the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary (CEDB) announced that Norway’s game against England on 4 April will be replayed from the minute a penalty kick was awarded to England, who were 2-1 down at the time.”

Imagine making England Women's U19 team replay just a few seconds of football tonight. What an absolute farce @UEFA — Robert Kostur (@Robbo_WWFC) April 9, 2015

UEFA also stated that the referee in question has been sent home from the event which is taking place in Northern Ireland. If the game, which will be decided at 9.45pm in the Seaview Stadium in Belfast tonight, ends in a draw, England will qualify for the tournament which takes place in July. Before that, England will play their final group game against Switzerland, while Norway will go head-to-head with Northern Ireland.

.@leahwilliamsonn had late penalty ruled out as our Women's U19s lost opening elite qualifier http://t.co/GEM0uYDLOM pic.twitter.com/9LmNum8BUn — England (@england) April 4, 2015