Tommy Fury may have forgotten about a key rule in football by appearing to take a throw-in underarm at Soccer Aid.
The boxer, who boasts an impressive 10-0 record, is swapping sports for the charity event. But in the first half Fury showed that he may be best suited to sticking with pugilism for the foreseeable.
He’s representing the World XI against England and somewhat squandered the World XI the chance to build an attack when collecting the ball on the right touchline.
After seeing Alessandro Del Piero making a darting run, Fury found Italy’s World Cup winner in quite a bizarre way.
Instead of throwing the ball overhead, Fury changed tack and opted to roll the ball underarm to Del Piero.
Referee Rebecca Welch quite rightly awarded England the throw-in after Fury’s illegal play.
Whether Fury didn’t know or forgot the rules, or was just relinquishing his throw-in duties to a teammate only he will know, but the watching fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
One fan said: “Tommy Fury doing a roll in instead of a throw in just unlocked an ick.”
Another said: “Look at the state of this throw in from Tommy Fury.”
This fan said: “Tommy Fury takes a throw in and goes for the underarm throw, someone tell him it’s not bowling.”
And this fan added: “Why’s Tommy Fury playing bowling at Soccer Aid?”
The exhibition match at Stamford Bridge is a goalfest with England currently 4-2 up.
Former England and Chelsea star Joe Cole put the hosts in front before an Eden Hazard free-kick levelled the scores.
Del Piero turned the game on its head just shy of the 20-minute mark but Ellen White’s close-range effort following fine work by Jack Wilshere made it 2-2 at half time.
Podcaster and entrepreneur Steven Bartlett put England 3-2 up with a left-footed strike early in the second half before Jermain Defoe slammed in England’s fourth of the night.
Bartlett then made it 5-2 to England as he charged down World XI goalkeeper Tony Bellew but YouTuber Billy Wingrove pulled one back for World XI moments later.
England restored their three-goal advantage when Theo Walcott expertly lobbed Bellew on 81 minutes.
England have lost the last five Soccer Aids, their last triumph coming on penalties at Old Trafford in 2018.
Soccer Aid raises money for Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and donations can be made here.