Dutch referee Danny Makkelie has apologized to the Portuguese national team for denying Cristiano Ronaldo's potential match-winner in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Tied 2-2 with Serbia after blowing a two-goal lead, Portugal appeared to score a late stoppage-time winner after Ronaldo's sublime touch on a long pass into the box rolled under the Serbia goalkeeper.
But Makkelie, an international referee since 2008, ruled that Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic had cleared the ball off the line whereas replays showed that it was a clear goal. But without VAR or goal-line technology in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, there was nothing to override the call on the field as the two nations each took home a point.