RobJames 891 Posted March 29 (edited) /https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/03/28/premier-league-tells-ball-boys-girls-stop-returning-players might be behind a paywall, so 'Premier League ball boys and girls have been ordered to stop throwing the ball back to players during matches, amid concerns that the “multi-ball” system is giving home teams an unfair advantage. Updated ruling states that players must now collect a ball from the nearest cone, rather than receive one thrown to them. “Ball assistants” as they are know in the Premier League handbook are no longer allowed to even be positioned next to the cones during matches. The league hopes this will make it clear to players that they must fetch the ball themselves during games. The change means that a goal such as Divock Origi’s famous strike for Liverpool against Barcelona in 2019, when Trent Alexander-Arnold took a quick corner after being thrown a ball by a ball boy, will not be possible in the Premier League. Earlier this month, Coventry City manager Mark Robins apologised for celebrating in front of a 13-year-old ball boy at the end of his side’s dramatic FA Cup victory over Wolves. Robins had said he was “really annoyed” by the ball boy, who had earlier dropped a ball during stoppage time. Gary O’Neil, his opposite number, said Robins had acted “disgustingly”. And earlier this season, Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was seen shoving a ball boy during his side’s defeat at Bournemouth. Marco Silva, the Fulham head coach, said at the time: “He wanted to play quick and the ball boys were … I don’t know who gave instructions to them for them to always hold the ball and to delay the [restart of the] game… “OK, we were losing, he ran towards the ball. I didn’t see him push the ball boy. He touched the ball boy, he didn’t push the ball boy – they are different things. I’m not English but I know the difference between one word and the other. We have to say the truth.” One of the most famous incidents involving ball boys took place in 2013, when Chelsea’s Eden Hazard kicked a ball boy during a League Cup match at Swansea City. Hazard was attempting to retrieve the ball from under the ball boy, who had fallen on top of it. The ball boy in question, Charlie Morgan, has since become a successful businessman and recently reunited with Hazard at an event to promote his drinks brand.' Edited March 29 by RobJames Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dylanisabaddog 4,983 Posted March 29 It's a shame this is necessary but it's one of those things that can cause problems with both players and spectators. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings of a Sparrow 1,425 Posted March 29 (edited) There was a game at Carrow Rd late70's/early 80's, where towards the end of the match with time running out, the ball went out for a corner, ball boy quickly placed in quadrant, corner quickly taken and we scored from it... Now I've read that back, in a Partridge voice...'what a funny story' Edited March 29 by Wings of a Sparrow 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ridgeman 135 Posted March 29 Is this an early April fool’s joke. It’s alright to spend several minutes on ridiculous VAR decisions but not a few seconds on a throw in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's Character Forming 1,166 Posted March 29 Whatever next, stopping them passing a towel to the long throw specialist? Seriously there is no doubt they generally help the home side by giving them the ball more quickly when they need it, and so this is actually a sensible move. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hairy Canary 707 Posted March 29 50 minutes ago, Wings of a Sparrow said: There was a game at Carrow Rd late70's/early 80's, where towards the end of the match with time running out, the ball went out for a corner, ball boy quickly placed in quadrant, corner quickly taken and we scored from it... Now I've read that back, in a Partridge voice...'what a funny story' I’m sure I was there WOAS. My memory says it was against QPR but there was a similar incident involving Stan Bowels playing for them so I might be getting them mixed up. 🤔 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BroadstairsR 2,203 Posted March 29 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Hairy Canary said: I’m sure I was there WOAS. My memory says it was against QPR but there was a similar incident involving Stan Bowels playing for them so I might be getting them mixed up. 🤔 I assume that's deliberate. Otherwise, it's a very sh-tty typo 😉 Didn't you rate Stanley? Edited March 29 by BroadstairsR 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BroadstairsR 2,203 Posted March 29 1 hour ago, ridgeman said: Is this an early April fool’s joke. It’s alright to spend several minutes on ridiculous VAR decisions but not a few seconds on a throw in. We’re not talking about time here, but home team advantage. Even so, excessive and blatant time-wasting is a bigger problem. It's fine holding the ball up at the corner flag or passing the ball around at the back slowly and even hoofing it into the stands, but a ball boy is a biased individual. By "excessive" I mean 'keepers taking time to take goal kicks or slow throw ins from defenders, ie. when the ball has been out of play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wings of a Sparrow 1,425 Posted March 29 33 minutes ago, Hairy Canary said: I’m sure I was there WOAS. My memory says it was against QPR but there was a similar incident involving Stan Bowels playing for them so I might be getting them mixed up. 🤔 Funny you say QPR, I thought it was the 3-2 win preventing them winning the title, but not clear from highlights... Maybe it was a later game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
percy varco 200 Posted March 29 Its all for the show. TV has made football a Show first and Sport second. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Real Buh 3,480 Posted March 29 2 hours ago, Wings of a Sparrow said: There was a game at Carrow Rd late70's/early 80's, where towards the end of the match with time running out, the ball went out for a corner, ball boy quickly placed in quadrant, corner quickly taken and we scored from it... Now I've read that back, in a Partridge voice...'what a funny story' Alan’s!… Funny stories… Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NFN FC 1,123 Posted March 29 Ridiculous! There's nothing more entertaining than ball boy sh1thousery. There's something about a 10 year old kid winding up a millionaire that I very much enjoy 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Real Buh 3,480 Posted March 29 4 minutes ago, NFN FC said: Ridiculous! There's nothing more entertaining than ball boy sh1thousery. There's something about a 10 year old kid winding up a millionaire that I very much enjoy It is pretty funny to be fair. This trying to take s41thousery out of the game is just wrong. Take penalties, the goalie should be well within their right to pull out all the dirty tricks to get an advantage. Trying to kill that shows how little the people in charge know about the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shefcanary 2,448 Posted March 29 I remember watching a local derby, Sheff Utd v Rotherham. Rotherham had Will Vaulks in their side, who had a very good long throw. He was applying a lot of pressure, and had placed a towel close the edge of the penalty area on both sides of the pitches to dry the ball. Wilder spotted this and sent one of the ball boys round the edge of the pitch to throw said towels as far as he could throw them into the stands. Vaulks turns up for the next throw and spends about 30 seconds looking for the towel, to be greeted by a stand full of fans telling him to **** off with his cheating! It's a funny old game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
