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MADRID: Footballers are renowned for stretching the rules to breaking point to gain an advantage, and now it seems the ball boys are getting in on the act.
Sevilla's 3-2 victory over Villarreal on Sunday was marred by the latest example of what seems to be a growing trend in the Spanish league that has seen extra balls being thrown onto the field in order to stop play.
A video replay clearly shows a ballboy throwing another ball onto the pitch as Villarreal pushed upfield late in the contest, and another ball is launched onto the field from the seats above Villarreal's goal.
There were similar incidents during Real Madrid's visit to Osasuna in January, and relegation-threatened Zaragoza employed the tactic in a victory over Getafe last month.
The offending clubs were fined a paltry $877 in both cases.
“Futbol is played with one ball...some people should learn before coming to stadiums and ruining a nice, exciting game,” Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi wrote on Twitter after the defeat by Sevilla.
Referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco made mention of the extra balls at Sevilla in his match report, which means the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee will have to study it. But it's unlikely to raise the penalty.
“We should look at altering the regulations,” federation spokesman Jorge Carretero said on Monday. “The rules need to generate fines that are relative to the penalty.
“The problem with the current regulations is that they say a higher sanction can only be applied if the penalty is of a violent nature.” Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez even nudged over a ballboy after he hesitated in handing the ball over to the Spanish 'keeper, who decided to fetch it from behind the advertising boarding himself.
“It's something you shouldn't expect to see at the stadium. In those moments when you're losing and they do these types of things you feel ready to do act out stupidly but you have to control yourself,” Lopez said afterward.
“What can you do? It's shameful. It's a question of sportsmanship.” Levante goalkeeper Gustavo Munua also experienced similar problems at Atletico Madrid on Sunday as ballboys wasted time and often let the balls land short when Munua asked for them. Atletico won 4-1.
In January, Madrid lost 1-0 at the Reyno de Navarro Stadium to see its league hopes begin to slip away. Balls were sent onto the field as Madrid attacked, forcing play to stop.
Zaragoza, meanwhile, is desperately looking to avoid the drop especially as its finances are already a mess and relegation would just confound its delicate situation.
Leading 2-1 with minutes to go against Getafe last month, an extra ball was rolled onto the pitch as the opposition attacked. The ball appeared to come from the Zaragoza dugout.
“If it doesn't break the law according to statutes, then the committee can't really do much,” Carretero added
Sevilla's 3-2 victory over Villarreal on Sunday was marred by the latest example of what seems to be a growing trend in the Spanish league that has seen extra balls being thrown onto the field in order to stop play.
A video replay clearly shows a ballboy throwing another ball onto the pitch as Villarreal pushed upfield late in the contest, and another ball is launched onto the field from the seats above Villarreal's goal.
There were similar incidents during Real Madrid's visit to Osasuna in January, and relegation-threatened Zaragoza employed the tactic in a victory over Getafe last month.
The offending clubs were fined a paltry $877 in both cases.
“Futbol is played with one ball...some people should learn before coming to stadiums and ruining a nice, exciting game,” Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi wrote on Twitter after the defeat by Sevilla.
Referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco made mention of the extra balls at Sevilla in his match report, which means the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee will have to study it. But it's unlikely to raise the penalty.
“We should look at altering the regulations,” federation spokesman Jorge Carretero said on Monday. “The rules need to generate fines that are relative to the penalty.
“The problem with the current regulations is that they say a higher sanction can only be applied if the penalty is of a violent nature.” Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez even nudged over a ballboy after he hesitated in handing the ball over to the Spanish 'keeper, who decided to fetch it from behind the advertising boarding himself.
“It's something you shouldn't expect to see at the stadium. In those moments when you're losing and they do these types of things you feel ready to do act out stupidly but you have to control yourself,” Lopez said afterward.
“What can you do? It's shameful. It's a question of sportsmanship.” Levante goalkeeper Gustavo Munua also experienced similar problems at Atletico Madrid on Sunday as ballboys wasted time and often let the balls land short when Munua asked for them. Atletico won 4-1.
In January, Madrid lost 1-0 at the Reyno de Navarro Stadium to see its league hopes begin to slip away. Balls were sent onto the field as Madrid attacked, forcing play to stop.
Zaragoza, meanwhile, is desperately looking to avoid the drop especially as its finances are already a mess and relegation would just confound its delicate situation.
Leading 2-1 with minutes to go against Getafe last month, an extra ball was rolled onto the pitch as the opposition attacked. The ball appeared to come from the Zaragoza dugout.
“If it doesn't break the law according to statutes, then the committee can't really do much,” Carretero added
