diff --git a/floodlight/io/skillcorner.py b/floodlight/io/skillcorner.py
index 97a17b44..403b5ff6 100644
--- a/floodlight/io/skillcorner.py
+++ b/floodlight/io/skillcorner.py
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ def read_position_data_json(
                     y_column = x_column + 1
                     xy_objects[half]["Away"][t, x_column] = tracked_object["x"]
                     xy_objects[half]["Away"][t, y_column] = tracked_object["y"]
-                elif pID is ball_id:
+                elif pID == ball_id:
                     xy_objects[half]["Ball"][t, 0] = tracked_object["x"]
                     xy_objects[half]["Ball"][t, 1] = tracked_object["y"]
                 # do not track referee
diff --git a/tests/test_io/test_skillcorner.py b/tests/test_io/test_skillcorner.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb64a3dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_io/test_skillcorner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import json
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from floodlight.io.skillcorner import read_position_data_json
+
+
+def test_read_position_data_associates_ball_id_by_value(tmp_path):
+    ball_id = 98765432109876543210987654321
+    home_id = 71000000000000000000000000001
+    away_id = 72000000000000000000000000002
+    match = {
+        "home_team": {"id": 101},
+        "away_team": {"id": 202},
+        "referees": [],
+        "ball": {"trackable_object": ball_id},
+        "players": [
+            {"team_id": 101, "trackable_object": home_id},
+            {"team_id": 202, "trackable_object": away_id},
+        ],
+        "pitch_length": 105.0,
+        "pitch_width": 68.0,
+    }
+    positions = [
+        {
+            "period": 1,
+            "possession": {"group": "home team", "trackable_object": home_id},
+            "data": [
+                {"trackable_object": home_id, "x": 1.25, "y": 2.5},
+                {"trackable_object": away_id, "x": -4.75, "y": 5.5},
+                {"trackable_object": ball_id, "x": 12.5, "y": -3.25},
+            ],
+        }
+    ]
+    match_path = tmp_path / "match.json"
+    positions_path = tmp_path / "positions.json"
+    # Separate files require identifier linkage across independent JSON decodes.
+    match_path.write_text(json.dumps(match), encoding="utf-8")
+    positions_path.write_text(json.dumps(positions), encoding="utf-8")
+
+    xy, _, _, _, _ = read_position_data_json(str(positions_path), str(match_path))
+
+    ball = xy["firstHalf"]["Ball"]
+    np.testing.assert_array_equal(ball.xy, [[12.5, -3.25]])
+    assert np.isfinite(ball.xy).all()
+    np.testing.assert_array_equal(xy["firstHalf"]["Home"].xy, [[1.25, 2.5]])
+    np.testing.assert_array_equal(xy["firstHalf"]["Away"].xy, [[-4.75, 5.5]])
+    assert ball.xy.shape == (1, 2)
+    assert ball.framerate == 10