By DAN KARELL
Spanish league president Javier Tebas has issued a serious threat to clubs that don’t follow suit with the LFP’s desire to eradicate hooligans.
Speaking to Radio Cope’s “La Mañana” show this morning, Tebas said that punishments such as relegation or point deductions could be handed down to clubs who partner with ultras or other groups of radical fans.
“Those clubs that directly or indirectly collaborate with radical supporters’ clubs, which we will make an official list of, will receive a sanction which will be a fine but could also be related to the league itself, such as having points taken away, or being relegated to a lower division,” Tebas reportedly said.
The issue of ultras in stadiums came to a fore this past week after a Deportivo La Coruña fan was killed in clashes between their ultras and ultras of Atletico Madrid. Atletico Madrid earlier this week banned members of Atletico Frente, one of the club’s ultras, from attending matches at the Vicente Calderon.
Tebas said that he has met with the Spanish Football Federation and the Spanish Ministry of Sport to “establish a strategy to eliminate these ‘ultras’ from our stadiums” and removing violence from the stadiums.
“We are preparing a range of measures that includes investing in human resources in order to put an end to verbal violence, which is a step toward physical violence and, we think, something that we have failed to deal with up to now”, Tebas added.
Here are some more stories to kick off your Thursday:
GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY COMING TO GERMANY
The Bundesliga is the latest league to adopt goal-line technology.
After today’s general assembly, 15 of the 18 Bundesliga clubs voted to approve the technology to be installed in stadiums across the league. The Bundesliga will use the FIFA-licensed “Hawk-Eye” program on a three-year basis, beginning on July 1, 2015, and concluding at the end of June, 2018.
The use of goal-line technology was proposed by Bayern Munich. Having goal-line technology in the 2. Bundesliga was not discussed.
The Bundesliga suffered an embarrassment in Oct. 2013 when Bayer Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling scored what came to be known as the “phantom goal.” Kiessling’s header on goal went wide of the post but somehow snuck through a hole in the side-netting and ended up in the net. The referee allowed the goal to stand, despite video evidence proving otherwise.
PISCULICHI SAVES RIVER PLATE ON ROAD
For the second consecutive match, Leonardo Pisculichi came up huge for River Plate.
Trailing 1-0 at Atletico Nacional in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana, Pisculichi unleashed a 30-yard blast that knuckled in front of Nacional goalkeeper Franco Armani and snuck in, despite Armani getting a hand on it. The goal gave River Plate an important away goal as the series heads to Buenos Aires for the final match next Wednesday, tied at 1-1.
Pisculichi also scored last Thursday against arch rivals Boca Juniors as River won, 1-0.
QUICK KICKS
Israeli manager Avram Grant has been officially appointed as the head coach of the Ghana National Team. (REPORT)
AS Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis has signed a one-year extension with the club. (REPORT)
Manchester City have announced reduced losses of £23 million after bringing in a record £347 million in revenue over the last season. (REPORT)
Jose Mourinho has claimed that Didier Drogba will remain with Chelsea after he retires. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Tebas coming through on his threats to clubs? Think that the Spanish can eradicate hooliganism from their game? What do you think of the Bundesliga’s decision to adopt goal-line technology?
Share your thoughts below.