Recently I was sent a link to a
YouTube video posted on 4 January 2019 titled Mind Control, in which Arthur
Fulford claims to show footballers using psychokinetic influence to direct the
ball. The video’s description states:
‘Obviously the scientists haven't checked this out – but I recon (sic) that
footballers use their hands to manipulate a forcefield that helps them control
the ball. Take a look.’ It is an
intriguing idea, so I thought I would.
The video itself begins: ‘The
best footballers appear to have the ball attached to their hand [as if] by a
piece of string. By using their hands
they exert a force over the ball. Here
are some examples of strange acceleration, deceleration as well as change in
direction of the football that are due to players using their hands.’ It must be stressed the hands are not in
physical contact with the ball, but are apparently being used to direct a
mental influence from the player to the ball to assist in controlling it.
A number of factors need to be
taken into account in assessing the claim, such as: the condition of the pitch;
dampness versus dryness; wind speed and direction; the speed, spin and curve of
the ball (Bernoulli's Principle); the player's balance and direction of travel;
the contact between boot and ball; the angle of the camera filming the action;
and random arm movements that might seem to correlate with those of the ball.
There are seven clips in Mind Control, each preceded by a short
summary explaining what to look for, and the clips are repeated numerous
times. I came away impressed by the
ability on display, if not sufficiently to consider those in the top rank worth
their obscenely bloated pay packets. But
bearing in mind these are players who can do amazing things with a ball through
constant practice, I think that what is presented here is a long way from
evidence of psychokinesis. These are my
thoughts on each of the examples in the video:
Pogba's ball seems to my eye to
travel in a straight line, and his arm goes up to maintain balance and facilitate
his turn. He may even be following
through the movement of the ball with his arm as he focuses on the ball’s
flight to the goal, but that is not the same as saying there is cause and
effect. The summary mentions Pogba
exerting ‘a telepathic force on the ball’ but this should be psychokinetic
force.
Sanchez's ball is probably
spinning, and while he does push his head forward, following the trajectory of
the ball he has just headed, I cannot see the ball deviate from the curve
initiated by the previous kick, nor speed up.
Edinho's play is brilliant, but
again I cannot see the ball acting in a manner that suggests normal dynamics
have been contravened.
Messi waves his arm but the ball
does not seem to do anything unexpected, and after a quick glance to check the
position of the ball as he receives it, he focuses on where to deliver his own
shot, which suggests the suspected arm movement is unconnected with the ball.
In the first Giroud clip, he
catches the ball on his foot, it goes behind him, he turns and kicks the ball;
all seemingly natural with no psychokinetic influence. In the second his footwork is nifty and he
does not require any extra help in controlling the ball. The hand movement looks synchronised but the
ball's descent seems to be what one would expect from the preceding bounce, and
both arms are being used for balance.
Lukaku chases the bouncing ball,
but if its speed has slowed appreciably in flight it is certainly not obvious,
as the speed looks constant. Judging by
the way his opponent slides on his knees it is possible the ground is wet, and
the ball accordingly bounces sluggishly.
As well as watching the arms in
all these clips as instructed, I was watching the ball, and cannot say from its
behaviour that there was anything unambiguously paranormal going on. Really, if players were able to control the
ball using some form of PK it seems likely they would be aware of it, and I
cannot believe it would remain secret even if there was a feeling among some of
them that such an admission could be embarrassing.
Of course it may be possible that
some footballers are able to employ psychokinesis, and perhaps it was used in
these clips and I missed it despite repeated viewings. However, these players seem talented enough
as it is, without the additional ability to control the ball using their minds. If they can use their minds, why do they need
their hands to direct the influence anyway?
And where are the examples of players using the ability to pull the ball
away from their opponents?
Arthur indicates at the end of
the video that this is merely a sample and there are many more to be seen once
the viewer focuses on the player’s hands rather than feet. Perhaps compelling examples will emerge from
sustained study of football match recordings (preferably watched on a high
definition screen), and the obvious step of investigating the theory under
controlled conditions could then be carried out, particularly among footballers
less skilled than those shown in the clips; those selected here are players
whose level of skill provides a confounding variable. In the meantime, the answer seems less likely
to be found in psychical research than in physics and the possession of magic
(in the metaphorical sense) boots.
