Multiball

[Dirk Gently]

For those who've been listening to BBCRB, Mick Gooding has been talking absolute bollox about Multiball.

The referee can tell a team to discontinue with multiball if it's not working - for example, if there are 2 balls on the pitch at any one time in the match. That's clearly what happened today, same as it happened on Tuesday v Sheffield Wednesday.

All this talk about Watford officials "cheating" is utterly wrong. I wonder if he'll ever be big enough to apologise to them.....

[hellopremiership]

MuLOLtibaLOLOL
Hth

[LoyalRoyalFan]

It was terrible to be frank. Did the radio comment on what the Watford Ball Boys were doing ?

Putting the balls back in the bags to stop us from playing on. But we got our own back

[Dirk Gently]

It was terrible to be frank. Did the radio comment on what the Watford Ball Boys were doing ?

Yep, but it won't have been Watford's choice to do that - it would have been the referee's.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

It was terrible to be frank. Did the radio comment on what the Watford Ball Boys were doing ?

Yep, but it won't have been Watford's choice to do that - it would have been the referee's.

I swear the 4th Offical was talking to one of the ball boys telling him to get them out again. After that he did get them out.

[Super_horns]

To be honest some of our ballboys just seem to throw the ball on without really thinking and its often stopped!

[LoyalRoyalFan]

To be honest some of our ballboys just seem to throw the ball on without really thinking and its often stopped!

We use the mulitball system,but we don't get a 2nd ball on the pitch every 5 minutes.

[soggy biscuit]

I can confirm that Reading were reported to the FA for 'mususe of the multiball system' after the Sheffield Wednesday game.

You have no reason to believe my word because I am essentially just some bloke on a website but, well, I actually know we were reported.

[SCIAG]

I can confirm that Reading were reported to the FA for 'mususe of the multiball system' after the Sheffield Wednesday game.

You have no reason to believe my word because I am essentially just some bloke on a website but, well, I actually know we were reported.

We didn't abuse it though, Brian Laws did.

[2.8 lita injection]

The thing is the multiball only became a problem when watford were drawing or winning in the game, when watford were 2-1 it happened 3 times.

[soggy biscuit]

We didn't abuse it though.

Correct, we didn't abuse it. We misused it and as such have been reported to the FA.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Its another oversight of bias from the referee again. Basically, when Watford were behind and chasing the game the system was in place thus allowing Watford to get that extra few seconds when restarting play. However when Reading were behind we were forced to wait for the ball, and this gave the Watford players time to regroup.

Although I agree that the Watford officials were not cheating, there was definately some 'foul play' from employees of Watford who repeatedly threw the ball onto the pitch whilst Reading were in possession.

[SCIAG]

We didn't abuse it though.

Correct, we didn't abuse it. We misused it and as such have been reported to the FA.

We didn't misuse it then. The only time there were two balls on the pitch was when Brian Laws threw one on. I think you're on a wind up.

[Man Friday]

"Foul play"..."cheating"...what's the feckin difference. Dirk, what are you the most "reasonable" man in the world? Of course it was cheating. It only happened when they needed to slow the game down or generally when it was to their advantage.

[moo]

I remember thinking during the first half how insanely fast the balls were being thrown to players when it went out of play...

Then the second half we the opposite...

[John Madejski's Wallet]

I think the multiball is great, but the rules around it are bloody terrible.

So what if two balls are on the pitch at the same time, they are almost never in the same place and so it doesnt interfere with play
(i.e. play has moved on by the time the 2nd ball bounces onto the pitch)

Just ignore it and let the ball boy run on and get it.

Typical of football authorities....slow on the uptake and implement things half-arsed

[soggy biscuit]

We didn't abuse it though.

Correct, we didn't abuse it. We misused it and as such have been reported to the FA.

We didn't misuse it then. The only time there were two balls on the pitch was when Brian Laws threw one on. I think you're on a wind up.

Happened twice during the match and the second time was the Laws one, though Laws only threw it back on as there was already 2 balls on the pitch.

Clubs are told how to use multiball and what rules they must stick to, we didn't stick to them.

As I said before, you have no reason to believe me as I am just some bloke on a website, but I do know for a fact that we were reported for it.

[Para Handy]

We didn't abuse it though.

Correct, we didn't abuse it. We misused it and as such have been reported to the FA.

We didn't misuse it then. The only time there were two balls on the pitch was when Brian Laws threw one on. I think you're on a wind up.

Actually, someone from the West Stand threw that ball onto the pitch. Hunt knocked it off and then Laws threw it back on.

[Rex]

Surely the game has to be stopped if anyone other that the players and the ref are on the pitch. If a ballboy/girl (person, i must remain PC!) they could inadvertantly intefere with play.

[soggy biscuit]

Clubs licensed to use the Multiball system for season 2008/09
Birmingham City
Brighton & Hove Albion
Chester City
Blackpool
Colchester United
Chesterfield
Bristol City
Leyton Orient
Darlington
Burnley
Milton Keynes Dons
Port Vale
Charlton Athletic
Oldham Athletic
Rotherham United
Coventry City
Peterborough United
Crystal Palace
Yeovil Town
Derby County
Preston North End
Reading
Sheffield United
Southampton
Swansea City
Watford
Wolverhampton Wanderers