Crossword Genius

European group interrupting dad's ball game (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pelota

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'ball game' is the definition.
'pelota' can be an answer for 'game' (pelota is a kind of game). I'm not sure about the 'ball' bit.

'european group interrupting dad's' is the wordplay.
'european' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. EU).
'group' becomes 'lot' ().
'interrupting' is an insertion indicator.
'dad' becomes 'pa' (both can mean one's father).
'e'+'lot'='elot'
'elot' put inside 'pa' is 'PELOTA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pelota that I've seen before include "Basque sport" , "Spanish game played with a ball and wickerwork racket" , "Basque ball-game" , "Spanish game at Opel" , "Basque ball game" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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