Barcelona change punishment for late players to 'huge' fines

"For me, it was always stressful when I looked to my watch and it was maybe 60, 45 seconds to go and [a player], was not there. I was always thinking: 'Are they coming?' So I decided [to change it] and I spoke with the captains. This was not always easy this situation. I don't like this pressure, either, because it is also pressure for me, because it doesn't matter who, I had to say he will not play."

"The fine is huge and, until now, no one came one second too late, so I think it was the right decision. This was not always easy this situation. I don't like this pressure, either, because it is also pressure for me, because it doesn't matter who, I had to say he will not play."

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick changed his disciplinary approach regarding player punctuality on match days. Previously, he benched high-profile players like Raphinha and Marcus Rashford for arriving late. After consulting with team captains, Flick replaced this sporting punishment with financial sanctions. The fine, approximately €40,000 for first-team players, has proven effective in eliminating lateness. Flick explained the stress of monitoring arrival times and the difficulty of benching any player regardless of status. The new policy has successfully deterred tardiness, with no players arriving late since implementation. Flick approaches his 100th game as Barcelona coach with 74 wins in 99 matches.

Read at ESPN.com