If an extra ball enters the field of play during the match, the referee must stop the match only if it interferes with play. Play must be restarted by a dropped ball in the position where the match ball was at the time when the match was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the ball on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped.
- FIFA “Laws of the Game 2009/10“, Page 58
We’re talking here, of course, about extra match balls being thrown on the field; still, the rule is consistent. The ball is an outside agent; when Bent’s shot hits the beach ball (cunningly adorned with a Liverpool crest, just for irony’s sake), the play is over. It should have restarted with a drop ball on the six, period.
But, hey, you know…these are just the laws of the game. What do they know, right?
And yet I cannot seem to muster any sympathy for Liverpool…
What you said. And neither could I stifle my laughter when I saw in the replay it was a Liverpool FAN what threw the damn thing on the pitch.
did the balloon make fantasy team of the week? I wish it would bring back Twitter. I’m jonesing