Linesman's wife knew Espinosa had made a mistake

The wife of a linesman, who wrongly disallowed Frank Lampard's goal against Germany, revealed on Thursday that she instantly knew he had blundered.

Recalling her reaction, Sandra Perez Espinosa said that she burst into tears and yelled at her TV: "No, no, Mauricio, you're wrong!"

The Sun quoted Sandra, 34, as saying that her hubby, 38 - who arrived home in Montevideo, Uruguay, last night - had "hardly spoken" as he was so depressed.

She said: "The instant the ball went in, we knew it was a goal. I couldn't believe his decision. I felt so bad for him."

Espinosa ruled England star Lampard's strike did not cross the line - despite being in by at least a foot.

He was said to have put his head in his hands and groaned: "Oh, my God" after being shown the replay at half-time.

Sources from the National School of Referees in Uruguay said Espinosa and Larrionda - both dropped from the World Cup over the error - almost came to blows after the game.

Larrionda, 42 - who the sources say believed the ball crossed the line - asked Espinosa four times:

"Mauricio, are you completely sure it wasn't a goal?"

He is said to have replied each time: "The ball didn't enter the goal, I am sure of it."

The director of the referee school said: "Larrionda backed his linesman. But there is no chance of them working together again. Larrionda won't forgive him."