Only a couple of weeks ago I was writing in this column, that referees have to be prepared for the unlikely to happen at their games and try to remember what the laws says. Almost immediately afterwards, there was an incident which seemed to confuse one of the country’s top band of the referees in the Premier League. I am referring of course to the red beach ball that suddenly appeared in front of the Liverpool goal in their game against Sunderland.
In case you have been out of the country, let me bring you up to date. One young Liverpool fan took the beach ball with him to the Sunderland game and for some reason threw it on to the pitch. Unfortunately, the wind blew it across the goalmouth just as Sunderland striker Darren Bent took a shot at goal. It hit the beach ball, which went one side of Pepe Reina, the Liverpool goalkeeper, and the match ball went the other side, both finishing in the net.
What I find amazing is that virtually no one complained and that none of the players or either manager knew what the laws said on the subject. The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, accepted it as just one of those things that happen and Sunderland boss, Steve Bruce said ‘if you know that rule, you have to be one saddo’. Even more amazing, the referee allowed the goal.
I can only imagine that neither he nor his assistant referee saw what happened, although with the size of the beach ball this is hard to believe. It really is a beginner’s error. One ‘quality’ newspaper trying to sound superior, said that it was covered in the laws on ‘outside agents’ coming onto the field of play but they were quoting the wrong law.
'Outside agents' refers to extra persons coming onto the pitch, whether they be substitutes, spectators, club officials or anyone else.
However, it is covered in Law 5, The
referee's powers and duties, which says ‘the referee stops the match because of outside interference of any kind.’ Advice on balls entering the field of play is actually given in the guidance to referees at the back of the Laws of the Game, but these are extra footballs particularly where they
practise the multi-ball system.
In fact, referees on the local parks also often have an extra ball coming onto their field of play from the pitch alongside. Another ‘outside interference’ that local park referees experience, is dogs off their lead wanting to take part. One young local referee found himself recently with a pesky and persistent dog interfering with the game. Having had it removed twice it came back for a third time when an exasperated player gave it a hefty kick. The referee was faced with a decision as to what action he should take. He gave the offender a rollicking, as violent conduct in the laws only refers to action against people.
Referees are instructed on outside interference such as a ball or dog, only to stop play if it interferes with play, otherwise have it removed at the next stoppage. If play is stopped, the game is restarted with a dropped ball.
There is one exception to this, at a penalty. If the kick is taken and the ball should hit an outside interference on its way to the goal, the kick should be retaken. None of this of course helps poor Mike Jones, the referee at Sunderland, who for his non-observance of the law has suffered demotion, at least for a game or two, or Liverpool, because the result of the game cannot be changed despite an obvious breach. ‘The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play,’ the law says, ‘including whether or not a goal has been scored and the result of the match, are final.’
Dick Sawdon Smith
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