AN Etihad ball-boy “broke the heart” of sympathetic TV viewers after his bizarre mistake forced the referee to give a unique drop-ball in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over West Ham.
City striker Sergio Aguero’s wayward shot had not quite gone out when the eager lad rushed to get the ball and roll it back to Hammers’ keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
The ball, in the bottom left corner, was still clearly on the line when the ball-boy stopped it when Man City were 1-0 upCredit: Sky Sports
A Manchester City official stepped in with a reassuring word after the ball-boy realised his mistake
Ref Kevin Friend had no choice but to give a drop-ball – and explain to players, who had not seen the ball-boy intervene, what had happened.
The lad looked shocked and embarrassed as he realised his odd but innocent error.
But a City staff member nipped over to pat him on the shoulder and have a quiet word.
No doubt it was a gentler, kinder version of the time-honoured “the whole ball must cross the line” cry that thousands of linesmen have faced from angry fans over the years.
‘SHOW HIM MISTAKES HAPPEN’
And the lad got a consoling response on social media, too.
Sam-I-am tweeted: “That ball boy just broke my little heart @ManCity. Please show him mistakes happen and that’s ok.”
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman suggested over-keenness was to blame for the ball-boy’s unusual gaffe.
Osman told BBC Radio 5 live Sports extra: “He’s waited all night for that ball to come near him and he was certainly out of his chair quick when it did.”
City were 1-0 up through Rodri’s 30th minute strike before Kevin Bruyne doubled the victory margin on 62 minutes.
Pep Guardiola’s men remain 22 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
And more tellingly, perhaps, the Hammers stay in the drop zone, one point adrift of Aston Villa.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
