A misunderstanding caused a two-minute halt to Friday’s La Liga clash between RC Celta de Vigo and CA Osasuna, after Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera showed a metal object to the referee, which the official mistakenly thought was thrown from the stands.
Herrera later clarified that the object was actually a part of the goal post that had broken loose.
“I’d like to clarify the misunderstanding with the object I alerted the referee to in today’s match,” Herrera wrote on Instagram. “It was an iron from the goal anchor that came loose and posed a risk.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
“I alerted the referee to check this circumstance,” he said. “At no time did I complain to the referee about the Celta fans, to whom I went to clarify the situation. I have nothing to reproach the Celta fans, who have dedicated themselves to cheering their team on.”
Media reports said referee Sanchez Martinez asked the on-field delegate to sound a warning in the stadium’s public address system, requesting spectators not to throw objects again, before the match resumed at the hour mark.
Iago Aspas scored from the spot nine minutes later to secure a 1-0 win for Celta.
Photo: AP
SERIE A
AP, LECCE, Italy
Lorenzo Lucca’s argument with teammates on Friday about him taking a first-half penalty scarred Udinese Calcio’s 1-0 win against US Lecce.
Captain Florian Thauvian is Udinese’s regular penalty-taker, but Lucca grabbed the ball and pushed away teammates who approached to discuss his decision.
There was a long delay before the spot-kick could be taken as Udinese players remonstrated with the striker.
Lucca held his nerve and made no mistake to slot his third goal in five games, but was pulled off by the coach moments later, with nine minutes still remaining in the first half.
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