By David Gold
April 30 – The Spanish Football Federation will look at changing the rules regarding time wasting and consider bringing in new sanctions after the increase in the use of multiple balls to hold up play.
Osasuna made use of the trick during their 1-0 win over Real Madrid in January as balls were regularly thrown onto the field, forcing numerous stoppages.
But the problem has proliferated recently, and last weekend saw a number of games marred by such instances of time wasting.
Real Zaragoza beat Almeria 1-0 on Monday in a crucial game between two sides battling against relegation, but on two occasions during the game extra balls bounced onto the pitch.
In the previous game at La Romareda, Zaragoza’s ground, a ball was thrown onto the pitch as the club sought to preserve a 2-1 lead against Getafe.
But the Blanquillos were not the only side guilty of using the new trick to waste valuable seconds last weekend.
Levante were also angered during their 4-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Sunday as ballboys either wasted time or did not return balls fast enough when putting them back into play.
Sevilla employed the tactic during their 3-2 win over Villarreal on Sunday.
On that occasion, it angered their visitors so much that Uruguayan goalkeeper Diego Lopez (pictured) pushed over a ball boy as he sought to resume play as quickly as possible.
“It’s something you shouldn’t expect to see at the stadium,” said Lopez.
“In those moments when you’re losing and they do these types of things you feel ready to act out stupidly but you have to control yourself.
“What can you do?
“It’s shameful, it’s a question of sportsmanship.”
Lopez’s team mate, Italian forward Giuseppe Rossi, wrote on twitter: “Futbol is played with one ball…some people should learn before coming to stadiums and ruining a nice, exciting game.”
Zaragoza and Osasuna have been fined €602 (£534/$891) each for their behaviour, but particularly given the financial troubles of the former, the rewards from winning and remaining in the Spanish top flight are so great as to make the fine seem irrelevant.
The referee from the Sevilla game, Alberto Undiano Mallenco, included the incident in his match report, meaning it will have to be investigated, and Spanish Football Federation spokesman Jorge Carretaro said: “We should look at altering the regulations.
“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.
“If it doesn’t break the law according to statutes, then the committee can’t really do much.”
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