NO-ONE can say that UEFA does not tackle the real problems.
Their world may be falling apart as a Swiss court rules that their
assumption of exclusive TV rights to the Champions' League is illegal,
goalkeeping chicanery is alleged in England, and dark threats of greater
scandals are being heard from the vicinity of Marseille again.
But the ruling body of Europe keeps its finger on the pulse by sorting
out dilatory ball boys.
The lads concerned were accused of deliberately wasting time in
collecting and returning the ball during the last 20 minutes of Hajduk
Split's match with Anderlecht in the Champions' League last month.
''Unsporting conduct,'' was the UEFA declaration and, when the
Croatian team appealed this week, they stuck by their verdict and
identified the offence as time-wasting. Hajduk, who went 2-0 up four
minutes from the end, won 2-1.
The club has been fined #15,000. That ought to make sure that
butterfingered ball boys are left out in future. The need for a good
first touch is clear, even for those not on the field.
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