By Mitch Phillips
LONDON, Oct 17 - Liverpool suffered their fourth
Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday when Sunderland
won 1-0 with a Darren Bent goal that took a deflection from a
beach ball thrown on the pitch by a visiting fan.
The incident came after five minutes at the Stadium of Light
and is likely to remain a major talking point for some time.
Bent's shot from inside the box struck the large red beach
ball, which had "Liverpool" emblazoned across it, and the match
ball was clearly deflected away from goalkeeper Pepe Reina as
well as making things awkward for defender Glen Johnson.
Liverpool's players protested but the goal was allowed to
stand.
Pictures on Sky TV showed a young fan in the Liverpool
section throwing the beach ball on the pitch and then looking
particularly glum at halftime as he perhaps considered the
consequences of his actions.
The rules state the referee has the option to allow play to
continue if a "second ball" goes on to the field but should call
a halt if it interferes with the action.
It also states he should stop the game in the case of "any
kind of outside interference" but in reality matches are
routinely allowed to continue with items like balloons on the
pitch.
Former FIFA referee Graham Poll told the BBC the referee
should have stopped the game and given a drop ball.
"If that's the case then we've got away with one,"
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce told the BBC.
"I didn't know that was the rule to be honest. I hope that
doesn't become the main issue as I thought we deserved to win
overall, but I'm sure it will."
Bent, whose goal took his tally to six in five games, said:
"The beach ball was sitting there in their six-yard box so if
they leave it there they pay the penalty."
TOUCHLINE BUST-UP
Bruce and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez were also involved in
a furious touchline bust-up in the second half, with officials
stepping in to separate them.
The Spaniard had calmed down when asked about the beach ball
incident, saying he did not really see it.
"I was surprised as the linesman was there," said Benitez.
"The players explained it to me but you cannot change it."
He was more concerned with another poor performance that has
left his side in eighth place, trailing seven points behind
leaders Manchester United and six adrift of Chelsea.
"We didn't play well and we didn't have the luck with the
goal so altogether it was difficult," said Benitez.
"We had some chances, but not very clear, and they did too
on the counter-attack."
Benitez said he had not given up on ending the Anfield title
drought that dates back to 1990.
"Chelsea have lost two games, people say that it's
impossible if you lose four ..." he said. "I think this year the
top sides will lose (more) games and I think there will be more
competition."
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard missed the defeat and
Benitez said they were 50-50 for the midweek Champions League
match against Olympique Lyon.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)