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April 27, 2011

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Spanish ballboys getting into act

REAL Zaragoza's 1-0 win over Almeria on Monday 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 by ballboys to stop play.

On two occasions, extra balls bounced onto the pitch with the host clinging to a 1-0 lead in the game's final minutes. This was the second game in a row at La Romareda stadium that has been disrupted in this manner. Two weeks ago - amid a flurry of balls tossed onto the pitch - a ball flew out of the Zaragoza dugout as the financially troubled and relegation-battling club held on for a 2-1 victory over Getafe.

The same time-wasting tactics were employed during Sevilla's 3-2 win over Villarreal on Sunday and Real Madrid's visit to Osasuna in January.

A video replay clearly shows a ballboy throwing another ball onto the pitch at Sanchez Pizjuan stadium as Villarreal pushed upfield late in the contest, and another ball was launched onto the field from the tunnel above Villarreal's goal.

Zaragoza and Osasuna were fined a paltry 602 euros (US$877) in both earlier 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.

"We should look at altering the regulations," federation spokesman Jorge Carretero said. "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."



 

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