SUNDERLAND BEACH BALL THROWER IS DEVASTATED, SAYS IRISH UNCLE

BY THOMAS KINSELLA

 

(IRELAND, SATURDAY) The young LIverpool fan who threw the beachball at Sunderland that ended up sinking his own team's title hopes is "devastated" over the matter, according to his Irish uncle.

The fan who has not yet been named was seen on TV throwing the ball onto the pitch at the Stadium of Light and moments later, a shot which deflected off it, went past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina for what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Paddy Lawless, from Caherreagh, in Westmeath said on Saturday night that his nephew is devastated about the incident.

"He is genuinely scared. He's my sister's lad and was really looking forward to travelling to the game at Sunderland. I spoke to him during the week and he was really thrilled, but he was a different lad after the game.

"He said that he thought the ball wouldn't be left on the pitch and would have been removed by a ballboy.

However,  the wind caught it and brought it further out into the pitch and into the goalmouth, where it resulted in the freak goal by Darren Bent that has all but killed Liverpool's league chance.

"He is afraid to go out now because a lot of the guys he knows had money on the game and they are genuinely annoyed about that happened, and all it takes is one lunatic to attack him," he said. 

"The goal should not have been allowed, but that's another story. The bottom line is that he has become well known in Liverpool now for something totally freakish."

"I'm genuinely worried for him now. He was crying on the phone tonight when I rang him. It was shown here on the telly in the pub and when I saw it shown on the Tv, I said 'of all the people in the ground and it had to be him.'

"However, the pubowner in The Dragon's Arms bought me a pint because he's a Man United fan, so it hasn't been bad luck for all the family. I hope it'll all blow over in a few days," he said.