On Monday I wrote about the devious tactics being employed in Spain this season as clubs have been “instructing” ball kids throw extra balls on to the field in an attempt to waste the final minutes of matches.
Spanish FA “Responds” to Their Extra Ball Problem
The most recent and blatantly obvious example was during the Real Zaragoza victory over Getafe when at least two of these incidents, though I seem to recall seeing three, caused Getafe manager Míchel to become understandably incensed on the field at the deceitful tactics being used. You can't blame Míchel since the loss on Monday kept his club right in the thick of a relegation battle, with Getafe sitting four points off the drop with seven matches to play.
Reports emerged last night that the Spanish FA had decided to fine Zaragoza for the extra ball incident, slapping the club with a “massive” €602 fine (that’s $871 US if you were curious). Even for the most financially strapped football club, €602 is hardly punishment and doesn’t exactly send a message that the FA is serious about ending these shenanigans.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they at least responded but I don’t think it will have much effect. If your club is holding on to a lead late in a match with a key three points on the line, who wouldn’t be willing to drop €600 to waste time and infuriate your opponent, potentially making them lose focus.
Monetary fines won’t solve this problem, a simple edict to match referees to add one minute of stoppage time for every ball thrown on the field would put an end to this harmless but completely unnecessary tactic. It’s that simple...but since when has a governing body of soccer at any level handled things in a simple and effective manor?
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