From a helping hand to an iron bar, ball boys are masters of the dark arts
IN 2007, Carlos Marcio dos Reis sat patiently, bided his time and waited to pounce. Comercial were at home to Botafogo in a big cup game in the Sao Paulo region of Brazil, and the away goalkeeper Marcao, desperate to restart the game, sprinted behind his goal to fetch the ball. That’s when Carlos struck. He had placed the ball behind an advertising hoarding, and when the No.1 tried to retrieve it, the young lad lamped him with an iron bar.
This is not the story of a seasoned hooligan, a mafia henchman or an angry husband. Carlos Marcio dos Reis was, in fact, a ball boy.
Ball boys are not innocent bystanders but more like well-briefed co-conspirators
In the week Jose Mourinho lauded a Spurs whippersnapper for his quick thinking in returning the ball to Serge Aurier, who immediately started the move that led to Harry Kane’s Champions League equaliser against Olympiakos, it is a good time to remind ourselves that, long before play-acting, diving and divas, ball boys were young masters of the dark arts.
Historians claim it was Don Revie’s Leeds United who pioneered such skullduggery but it was the Brazilians who took it to a different level.
In 2000, Santacruzense were in desperate need of an equaliser but cursed their luck as the ball trickled just wide of the post, only for the ball boy to tap the ball back onto the pitch and into the net. The referee turned to see the ball nestled in the onion bag and promptly awarded the goal.
Mostly, though, it is the same across the world. They are part of the home team’s strategy, which is to return the ball as quickly as possible to their own players, or as slowly as possible to waste time. As for the visitors, they will always have to bide their time.
When Northern Ireland beat Spain 3-2 in 2006, I watched our then manager Lawrie Sanchez launch a verbal volley at a ball boy that could have sunk the Titanic itself.
After a sublime David Healy hattrick, we were 3-2 up as the clock ticked down. The Spanish superstars had a throw-in about 30 yards out. This young lad was about to give the ball back in a professional and prompt manner to Antonio Lopez, when Lawrie let loose.
The pure fear and adrenaline caused this kid to launch the ball 30 yards into row Z of the South Stand, to a huge ovation from 14,000 members of the Green And White Army.
However, don’t confuse ball boys with innocent bystanders. They are mostly well-briefed co-conspirators, made up usually of youth-team players, and many have gone on to great things. Pep Guardiola was a ball boy at the Nou Camp, long before his voice even broke. There is a wonderful snap of Terry Venables being carried shoulder high after capturing silverware, and the kid in the corner of the picture is none other than a wide-eyed, mesmerised Pep.
The list is endless. Fabio Cannavaro used to toss the ball back to Diego Maradona at Napoli. Wesley Sneijder fetched for Frank Rijkaard at Ajax. Phil Foden was Sergio Aguero’s little helper for Manchester City when they won the title in 2012.
Yes, there are times when things go a little far. Just eight months ago, the referee in charge of Yeovil Town versus Bromley sent the entire ball boy team off. And infamously, there was Eden Hazard’s kick out at a Swansea scamp who actually lay on top of the football to prevent a quick restart in the Premier League a few years back. That’s proper dedication.
I just hope, in an age of countless rules, regulations and replays, that we just leave ball boys to be ball boys.
It is an idiosyncrasy that once in a while raises its head and gives us something to smile about, and we shouldn’t change a thing. Although, I think it is fair to say we should draw the line at iron bars.