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Page last updated at 14:50 GMT, Monday, 19 October 2009 15:50 UK

Beach ball ref given Premier rest

Mike Jones
Jones appeared to consult the assistant referee about the decision

Mike Jones, who incorrectly awarded Darren Bent's goal for Sunderland against Liverpool, will not officiate in the Premier League this weekend.

Bent's shot struck a beach ball and deflected past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina in the 1-0 win for Sunderland.

Fifa's laws of the game state that the game should have been stopped because of outside interference.

Referee Jones will take charge of the Championship game between Peterborough and Scunthorpe at London Road.

His mistake has been widely criticised by a number of his former colleagues with Jeff Winter, Dermot Gallagher and Graham Poll all stating their surprise at the error.

606: DEBATE

The incident occurred when Bent took a first-time shot from just inside the penalty area in one of Sunderland's first attacks during Saturday's Premier League match at the Stadium of Light.

The ball evaded Glen Johnson's attempted block and, at almost the same time, deflected off a large red beach ball at the edge of the six-yard box.

Reina found his eyes initially drawn to the path of the beach ball and was wrong-footed, in no position to make the save.

Jones did appear to consult the assistant referee but allowed the goal to stand.



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see also
Freak goal was 'wrongly allowed'
18 Oct 09 |  Liverpool
Benitez shrugs off bizarre goal
17 Oct 09 |  Liverpool
Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool
17 Oct 09 |  Premier League
Saturday's football photos
17 Oct 09 |  Football


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