RB Leipzig's coach Ole Werner has requested clarification on ball-boy rules following Bayer Leverkusen's 4-1 victory. Leverkusen's win places them in the Champions League spot, closely pursued by Leipzig with two games remaining.
RB Leipzig coach Ole Werner stands on the sideline during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig at BayArena. Fabian Strauch/dpa
RB Leipzig coach Ole Werner has called for rules governing ball-boys to be clarified after Bayer Leverkusen's opening goal in their 4-1 Bundesliga win over the Red Bulls on Saturday.
Third-placed Leipzig now have Leverkusen on their tails as the Werkself jumped into the fourth and probably final Champions League spot with two games to go. Sixth-placed Hoffenheim's 3-3 draw with Vfb Stuttgart in fifth boosted Leverkusen, who lead the trio on goal difference.
Despite the thrilling finale to the Champions League race, which could change if Germany beat Spain to a fifth spot via UEFA co-efficients, the speed of the ball-boy in Leverkusen occupied Werner's mind.
Leipzig's Nicolas Seiwald headed the ball wide and a ball-boy immediately threw Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken another ball. The Dutchman launched a quick counter-attack that led to Leverkusen taking the lead through Patrik Schick.
Werner said the controversial assistance of the ball-boy "gave the game a direction," even if Schick's hat-trick meant his former side were well beaten.
RB Leipzig's coach Ole Werner called for clarification on the rules governing ball-boys after Bayer Leverkusen's opening goal.
Bayer Leverkusen's 4-1 win over RB Leipzig moved them into the fourth Champions League spot, with Leipzig closely trailing in third.
With two games left, the current standings could determine which teams qualify for the Champions League, depending on the outcomes of the remaining matches.
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The German Football League (DFL) recommended to clubs before the season that ball-boys should no longer throw the ball to players but instead place it on a marked spot. However, since this is not an official FIFA rule, implementation is not mandatory.
"Basically I am a big fan of there being a rule. If the rule is not implemented, it has to be punished in some way. Otherwise it makes little sense," Werner told reporters.
"We talked about it at the coaches' meeting half a year ago and said that the rule had to be uniform. That is desirable for the future."
In another Bundesliga game on Saturday, an Union Berlin ball-boy showed knowledge of the recommendation - even to the detriment of his own club.
The youngster stubbornly held on to the ball that Union's Josip Juranović wanted for a quick throw-in. The player, puzzled by the situation, had to take another ball that was lying ready on a plastic cone.