"...procedures advise against this, as it would distract the pilot in the most critical phase of the flight..."
What a load of cobblers.
If ATC had been in radio contact, they would have told the aircraft to go-around had there been any doubt that they were about to land on the taxiway. If no radio contact, then OK, but I'm puzzled as to who would give clearance to land - the approach/radar controllers? That seems a bit odd, if there is a tower at the airfield.
1300m from the runway = 0.8 miles = about 250ft above threshold = 25 seconds, give or take, from that point until touchdown.