Why Bernardo Silva runs back onto pitch as Portugal celebrate opening goal against Switzerland

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The emotions were running high for Portugal as they went ahead in their World Cup last-16 clash with Switzerland.

Despite the wild celebrations, Bernardo Silva still had the presence of mind to run back onto the pitch.

Goncalo Ramos, who was starting ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, put his team 1-0 up on what was his first start for his country.

There was a huge celebration just off the pitch by the corner flag on the left-hand side that involved the players on the pitch and the substitutes.

The Man City star quickly realised that all outfield players were off the pitch and run back to just inside the corner flag.

England fans may remember Kieran Trippier doing a similar thing back in 2018.

This is because it was thought that the opposition team could restart the match if all ten outfield players had left the field.

However, FIFA later debunked this theory that such an incident could happen.

Under Law 8, one of the conditions for a kick-off to restart play after a goal has been scored is “all players, except the player taking the kick-off, must be in their own half of the field of play.”

It therefore seems that Silva need not have ran back on the pitch and maybe players do not realise this loophole theory is not true.

It ended up being an impressive night for Portugal as they thrashed Switzerland 6-1.

Ramos went on to get a hat-trick, with Pepe, Raphael Guerreiro and Rafael Leao also scoring.

Manuel Akanji got a consolation for Switzerland.

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