A Real Betis fan accused of throwing a bottle at Athletic Bilbao’s goalkeeper Armando during Saturday’s home match was released on Monday after paying a 3,000-euro bail, Spanish media reported.
The visiting keeper was struck by a bottle filled with liquid just below the right eye and required a number of stitches for a cut. Fans quickly identified the perpetrator, who was taken away by stadium security and handed over to the police. The match was abandoned in the 69th minute, with Bilbao winning 2-1.
It is not the first time this has happened in Spain, so what is the right punishment? Is it the fan’s fault alone or should Betis be fined, have points deducted or face a stadium ban?
Here Kevin Fylan, who covered Spanish soccer for Reuters, talks to vlogmeister Owen Wyatt about the incident and the possible punishments. We’d like your views in the comments below or you can send us your own vlog via youtube or wherever. Tag it ‘Vlog on the pitch’ and if we like it, we’ll put it up here.
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7 comments so far
here at the San Siro in Milan they have big nets behind the goals. The official reason is to stop the ball hitting the crowd but it also prevents fans throwing things from the first tier.
- Posted by Mark MeadowsIt didnt stop one man throwing a burning moped from the top tiers a few years ago though…
Stadium ban, 3-0 defeat, points deduction of at least three. That’s the only way to deter, let’s face it. It was a shocking incident, and another crap moment for SPain’s image.
- Posted by PatrickI think the time has come for UEFA to step in and deal with this incident swiftly. The Spanish authorities have consistently shown they are don’t have the teeth to deal with crowd behaviour be it racial chanting or missile throwing. As a seasoned viewer of La Liga I really worry about the future of Spanish football if an example is not made of Real Betis sooner rather than later.
- Posted by Adam HutchinsonIts interesting to see that according to Marca Jose Maria Del Nido the President of Sevilla FC has said that Real Betis should not be penalised for the incident
- Posted by Owenhttp://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbo l/1a_division/sevilla/es/desarrollo/1101 924.html.
Yeah, I think it’s the sort of thing the SPanish FA is not very good at dealing with. Send it to UEFA if they don’t make an example of them.
- Posted by PatrickThe punishment ended up as a two-match ban and the result of the game (2-1 to Athletic) corroborated as the final score. Betis are crying foul and claiming the federation just wants to send them down (they were heading that way themselves without much help); however, they do have a point that in other similar situations the punushment has not been as severe.
- Posted by GonzaloYes it should be a set punishment for all cases like this. Lets face it we have been dealt the hardest throught Europe for years. And while UEFA are at it, when will they start stamping down on players who drop like lead balloons at the slightest of touchs then smile and jump up when the ref sees them. I have never seen so many broken legs heal so quickly. Too many people get away with too much. Get tough Platini
- Posted by Daniel