Last September, Brazilian referee Silvia Regina de Oliveira was suspended for allowing Santacruzense's game-tying goal to stand even though the ball was stroked home by the ball boy. (video)

Earlier this month, another Brazilian ball boy committed a more egregious but less effective transgression when he smacked Botafogo-Riberao Preto goalkeeper Marcao with an iron bar. (video)

Ball ball Carlos Marcio dos Reis, who was taken away by security and subsequently suspended for 30 days, left the ball sitting by an advertising board, then whacked Marcao as he went to retrieve it.

Marcao was not injured and continued to play in the 1-0 loss to Comercial.