Spanish Manager In Trouble For Pitchside Foul Play

In his day, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly did some very extreme things to ensure that his side won.

This included: engaging in vicious mind-games with other title-contending managers, kicking a boot at David Beckham's forehead for not tracking-back, and even signing Eric Djemba Djemba. (OK, the last one didn't pay off but you get the point).

However, we doubt the man who brought through two of the most successful generations in English football consecutively would go as far as to actually interfere with play, that he would actually pull out a quick drag-back to nab the ball away from counter-attacking opponents.

Refs didn't want to get on Fergie's bad side. Image: PA Images

Well, that's precisely what Cultural Leonesa coach Ruben de la Barrera did, with it even reported that the boss could now receive a ten-game ban for his stunt.This means, if the ban occurs, he will have to sit out for the rest of the season, as his side battle on in their relegation battle in Segunda División, Spain's second league.

The manager surprised everyone when he came to the touchline to take the ball away. And he was promptly sent to the stands by the referee for his interfering, in a match that eventually finished 0-0 against La Liga 2 opponents Albacete.

But after the match, the 33-year-old manager went on to protest his innocence. "It was an instinctive act. I believed that the ball was out. I talked to the referee and hopefully he will reflect what he interpreted in the same way."

Hmmm. We're not so sure about that, de la Barrera. Maybe if you didn't look like the world's guiltiest man after the referee blew his whistle, throwing up your hand in the air before glumly strolling off the pitch with your tail between your legs, maybe then we could believe you.

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This is not an isolated incident, however. In 1999/2000 former Leganes coach, Enrique Monreal landed in hot water when he entered the pitch in order to halt an attack in his side's game against Badajoz.

We heard of Spanish football following the Guardiola-reign of utilising the goalkeeper, but never thought they'd start using their manager as a component on the field.

Words by Jacque Talbot.

Topics: Spain

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