Sub error costs Santander a point
MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Racing Santander have had a point deducted by the Spanish Federation for fielding an ineligible line-up in the weekend Primera Liga draw with Osasuna.
The Federation also banned Racing coach Lucas Alcaraz for a month and fined the club 3,000 euros ($3,705) for mistakenly fielding four non-European Union players for two minutes.
However they decided not to award the game to Osasuna as they have done after similar infringements in the past.
The ruling means that Racing will remain in 13th place in the table, although they will now have 20 points rather than 21, while Osasuna will stay fourth with 27. The clubs can appeal.
Alcaraz broke the Federation rule that allows a maximum of three non-European Union players on the pitch at any one time when he brought on Uruguayan winger Mario Regueiro for Spanish forward Javi Guerrero midway through the second half.
Racing also had Israeli forwards Yossi Benayoun and Omri Afek and Brazilian midfielder Anderson Silva on the pitch.
It is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Spanish football.
Real Madrid's sporting director Jorge Valdano made the same error on two occasions during his coaching career, once for Real and once for Valencia.
In January 1999, Valladolid were punished with a 3-0 defeat after coach Sergio Kresic fielded too many foreign players for five minutes during their 1-0 league victory over Real Betis.
Two seasons ago Valencia were thrown out of the Cup when coach Rafa Benitez made a similar mistake during his side's 1-0 victory over third division Novelda.
