The ball was "pocketed" period. Those of you comparing it to skids and almost making a ball have issues, there is no comparison. It also doesnt matter how hard he hit it and didnt need to or whatever else you can come up with to make yourselves feel better about it.
If it were my game even hill hill, he would be shooting the 9.
If it disturbes other balls then maybe a rerack.
Jason<---not a slippy slope with his integrity
You are welcome to give that game away but in most cases if it were the other way around I wouldnt expect much leniency. If the ball is on the table, rules say it's not pocketed. These video examples are on the world's stage.
Just to further comment on your post. Let's say it does disturb other balls and it is deemed a rerack. Who get's to break? The guy that was shooting since it is unfair that happened to him? The guy that originally broke that rack? If alternating break then would it be the next person in the alternating rotation?
The only real "fair" option is that the ball is not considered pocketed. I've had the happen to me with a corner pocket on a valley box. Most players here have had this happen to them. Pros have had it happen to them and there is more then one example of it in a major event.
Both players are playing on the same equipment. Shit happens. Sure I wouldnt be happy and I would probably ***** about it, but the ball is still on the table. It's not your fault. It's not the rules fault. It's the equipment's fault and there isnt anything that can be done about it except not compete on that equipment until it is corrected, provided you have that luxury and it is ever corrected.
Let's say you are gambling and this happens. You are shooting the 8ball before the 9ball. You shoot and it goes in and comes back out. Your opponent says he didnt see the shot (whether he did or not), but yet the ball is still on the table.
It's bullshit and it blows when it happens to you, but calling the ball not pocketed it the correct call.