Third party incentives commonplace in Spain, says Suker

MADRID, Jun 14 (Reuters) Former Real Madrid and Sevilla player Davor Suker has said that incentive payments made by third party clubs are commonplace in Spain and has admitted that he received one from Atletico Madrid in 1996.

''In my era as a player, incentives paid by outside clubs also existed,'' the Croatian was quoted as saying in the Spanish media today.

''I was paid one when I played for Sevilla for drawing with Barcelona at the Nou Camp when Atletico went on to win the league.'' Incentive payments, or ''primas'' as they are known in Spain, have been in the news in recent weeks because of speculation that clubs involved in the title race and the battle to avoid relegation are offering other teams special bonuses to beat their rivals.

Such payments are not permitted under Spanish Football Federation rules, but Suker said he thought there was nothing wrong with them, as long as they were only given as an incentive to win.

''I think they are fine as long as they are for winning,'' he said. ''It would be bad if they were given for losing and if anyone does that then they should be put in prison because it would kill football.

''The bonuses are good for the players, but they only exist in Spain. I played in Germany, England and Croatia and they don't give them there.'' REUTERS BJR SSC1325