By Tom Fordyce BBC Sport Online

When is a goal not a goal?

As the players of Liechtenstein's Vaduz can now tell you, when the ball enters the net a fraction after the referee has blown his whistle.

Send us your tales of sporting woe

Vaduz thought they had beaten Scottish side Livingston with the last kick of the ball in Thursday night's Uefa Cup clash, only to find the Croatian referee had parped for the end of the game with the ball inches from the net.

Not that it is the first time the end of a sporting contest has been mired in controversy...

---

Brazil v Sweden, Fifa World Cup, 1978

Welsh referee Clive Thomas, a man officious enough to warrant the nickname "The Book", wrote himself into football history in Argentina 24 years ago.

Clive "The Book" Thomas in dominant form

Brazilian legend Zico powered home a header from a corner right at the death - but his celebratory yell was barely out of his mouth before he realised something was up.

Thomas had blown his whistle to end the game while the ball was still on its way from corner spot to Brazilian bonce.

Despite frantic protests from Zico and his team-mates, Thomas stood firm. The goal would not stand.

England v India, Commonwealth Games hockey semi-final, 2002

With the match hanging in the balance at 2-2, the game went into extra time, with the golden goal rule applying.

England's hockey team suffer Commonwealth woe

On the stroke of half-time, Mambta Kharab converted a penalty corner for India, only for the umpires to initially rule out the strike because the hooter had sounded.

After complaints from Indian players and officials, the decision was overturned.

Closer inspection of the rules revealed that a penalty corner move cannot end until either the ball has left the "D" or a goal is scored.

England had an initial appeal against the result turned down and then, as their players sat on the pitch for half an hour and India completed their lap of honour, withdrew a second protest and accepted defeat.

Australia v West Indies, World Cup final, 1975

With Australia teetering at 268-9, 23 runs short of victory, Dennis Lillee drove a Vanburn Holder delivery straight into the hands of Roy Fredricks at mid-off.

Thinking the Windies had won, the crowd steamed onto the pitch - little realising that umpire Dickie Bird had signalled a no-ball.

Fredricks, seeing the batsmen running, tried to throw down the stumps but missed, and the ball disappeared into the invading hordes.

Lillee and his partner Jeff Thompson ran for their lives, completing at least 10 runs before the ball was retrieved.

But umpires Bird and Tom Spencer awarded them just two runs, increased to three under vehement Aussie protests.

No matter. Australia were dismissed 18 runs short and the Windies were crowned world champions.

Monaco Grand Prix, 1984

With the rain pouring down in Monte Carlo, race director Jacky Ickx decided to abandon the race at the halfway stage.

Prost: Enjoyed driving more than management

Problem was, he did it just before leader Alain Prost would have been overtaken by Ayrton Senna's Toleman.

Prost's McLaren was powered by a Tag-Porsche engine. And Ickx raced a Porsche in endurance races.

Ironically, Prost's victory ended up costing him that season's drivers' championship.

Because the race was stopped at halfway, he received just four and a half points for his win.

Had the race run its length and Prost finished second to Senna, he would have won six points.

Niki Lauda eventually pipped him to the title by just half a point. You work it out.

Mike Tyson v Orlin Norris, Las Vegas, 1999

Tyson: Clocked his man after the bell

Tyson's bout with Norris ended in farcical circumstances when he struck his opponent one second after the bell to end the first round.

Norris claimed the blow left him with an injured right knee, and that he was unable to continue.

Given the fact Norris walked to his corner without a limp, eyebrows were raised - but the bout was ruled a no-contest.

Wimbledon v Wrexham, FA Cup, 1998

It's not often that Marcus Gayle gets mentioned in the same breath as Zico.

But that unlikely scenario was played out four years ago at Selhurst Park at the end of Wimbledon's FA Cup tie with Wrexham.

With the score locked at 0-0, Gayle rose to nod home Neil Ardley's corner. Cue the usual Crazy Gang celebrations - except referee Steve Dunn had whistled for full time with the ball in mid-flight.

Much to manager Joe Kinnear's disgust, the goal was wiped out and the tie went to a replay - which Wimbledon duly won 3-2.