this is outrageous... refs who dont even know the rules of the game should nver be allowed to officiate, according to fifa's BIG blue rulebook,

Outside agents
Anyone not indicated on the team list as a player, substitute or team
official is deemed to be an outside agent as is a player who has been
sent off.
If an outside agent enters the field of play:
• the referee must stop play (although not immediately if the outside
agent does not interfere with play)
• the referee must have him removed from the field of play and its
immediate surroundings
• if the referee stops the match, he must restart play with a dropped
ball in the position where the ball was at the time when the match
was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in
which case the referee drops the ball on the goal area line parallel
to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located
when play was stopped

so what exactly happened?? darren bent shot clearly struck the balloon(considered a foreign object), ref does what?!? he allows play to go on, according to fifa, he should have stopped the match, as the ball is interfering with play, and he has to restart play with a dropped ball, dropped parallel to the goal line, area which is closest to the original ball position. hence, infringement of fifa's "official" rulebook. the game must be replayed due to a clear infringement of the rules, the ref must be sacked, for officiating w/o proper knowledge of the game... fifa has gotta look into it, such an injustice should not be allowed to continue...

I REST MY CASE....