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
