Remote control car brings ball onto pitch for Nations League final in bizarre pre-match ceremony which leaves fans baffled

PORTUGAL’S Nations League final with the Netherlands was preceded by a curious ceremony whereby the match ball came out in a remote control car. The delivery was even set out in a UEFA document, complete with heatmap. Just before Sunday’s encounter in Porto kicked off, the vehicle buzzed across the playing surface. The referee collected […]

PORTUGAL’S Nations League final with the Netherlands was preceded by a curious ceremony whereby the match ball came out in a remote control car.

The delivery was even set out in a UEFA document, complete with heatmap.

@maxrushden

Just before Sunday’s encounter in Porto kicked off, the vehicle buzzed across the playing surface.

The referee collected the ball and it zipped away.

It was clearly a sponsorship gimmick that baffled fans awaiting the heavyweight clash.

Steven posted on Twitter: “The remote control cars that carry the ball onto the pitch in the Nations League are just ridiculous, man.”

David added: “Love to live in a world where the Brain Genuis who came up with the idea of having a tiny sponsored car drive the football onto the field to start the Nations League games probably makes 300k a year.”

Another, Arielle, joked: “The mini car driving out the match ball in Nations League is a big mood.”

The match ball was delivered in the same way for France’s friendly with Bolivia during the week, which raised many a chuckle on social media.

Not least because of Antoine Griezmann’s reaction to the moment.

Jubin posted: “Find someone who looks at you the way Griezmann looks at the RC car that brought the matchball.”

Another fan, Jordan, tweeted: “Griezmann looks absolutely baffled as if he thinks there is genuinely someone small driving the car!”