European Commission probes aid to Spain football clubs
19 Dec 2013 5:45 AM IST
The European Commission on Wednesday launched an investigation into seven Spanish football clubs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, after complaints they accepted illegal state aid.
The Commission said it was concerned the alleged aid -- believed to be worth several billion euros -- had given the clubs an unfair advantage at a time when they were struggling financially.
‘The European Commission has opened three distinct in-depth investigations to verify whether various public support measures in favour of certain Spanish professional football clubs are in line with EU state aid rules,’ said a commission statement.
‘Professional football clubs should finance their running costs and investments with sound financial management rather than at the expense of the taxpayer,’ commented Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia -- an Athletic Bilbao fan. The complaints concern state aid for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna (Pamplona), Valencia, Hercules (Alicante) and Elche.
‘The Commission has concerns that these measures provided significant advantages to the beneficiary clubs to the detriment of the clubs which have to operate without such support,’ the statement said. The Commission said it had not been notified of the payments and had been alerted by ‘concerned citizens’.
The first probe will look into possible tax privileges for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, and Osasuna. The four clubs in question are the only member-owned clubs in the top two divisions in Spain and as such enjoy not-for-profit status.
However, Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa said on Monday that the Catalans do not believe there is any foundation for the investigation. ‘We have never received state aid and you cannot attack our judicial form as a member-owned club because it is legal under Spanish law.’
Sacked spot-fixing suspect denies role
MADRID: A football player sacked by Oldham Athletic after being arrested in a spot-fixing investigation said on Wednesday that he ‘vehemently denies’ the allegations.
Cristiano Montano had his contract terminated by English third-tier club Oldham on Monday, having been one of six players arrested earlier this month by the National Crime Agency (NCA) -- Britain’s equivalent of the FBI -- following a newspaper expose.
The 22-year-old Colombian and the five other men were bailed until April by the NCA, which is yet to bring any charges against them.
Oldham cited ‘gross misconduct’ as their reason for sacking Montano, having initially suspended him, but he has criticised the club for not letting him put across his side of the story.
In a statement, Montano’s barrister Roy Ledgister said his client was ‘disappointed’ and would appeal against the club’s decision, which he described as ‘illogical as it appears no proper investigation was carried out’.
The statement added: ‘The club would usually have interviewed their player as part of their investigation, instead they chose to engage in discussions’.
The Commission said it was concerned the alleged aid -- believed to be worth several billion euros -- had given the clubs an unfair advantage at a time when they were struggling financially.
‘The European Commission has opened three distinct in-depth investigations to verify whether various public support measures in favour of certain Spanish professional football clubs are in line with EU state aid rules,’ said a commission statement.
‘Professional football clubs should finance their running costs and investments with sound financial management rather than at the expense of the taxpayer,’ commented Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia -- an Athletic Bilbao fan. The complaints concern state aid for Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna (Pamplona), Valencia, Hercules (Alicante) and Elche.
‘The Commission has concerns that these measures provided significant advantages to the beneficiary clubs to the detriment of the clubs which have to operate without such support,’ the statement said. The Commission said it had not been notified of the payments and had been alerted by ‘concerned citizens’.
The first probe will look into possible tax privileges for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, and Osasuna. The four clubs in question are the only member-owned clubs in the top two divisions in Spain and as such enjoy not-for-profit status.
However, Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa said on Monday that the Catalans do not believe there is any foundation for the investigation. ‘We have never received state aid and you cannot attack our judicial form as a member-owned club because it is legal under Spanish law.’
Sacked spot-fixing suspect denies role
MADRID: A football player sacked by Oldham Athletic after being arrested in a spot-fixing investigation said on Wednesday that he ‘vehemently denies’ the allegations.
Cristiano Montano had his contract terminated by English third-tier club Oldham on Monday, having been one of six players arrested earlier this month by the National Crime Agency (NCA) -- Britain’s equivalent of the FBI -- following a newspaper expose.
The 22-year-old Colombian and the five other men were bailed until April by the NCA, which is yet to bring any charges against them.
Oldham cited ‘gross misconduct’ as their reason for sacking Montano, having initially suspended him, but he has criticised the club for not letting him put across his side of the story.
In a statement, Montano’s barrister Roy Ledgister said his client was ‘disappointed’ and would appeal against the club’s decision, which he described as ‘illogical as it appears no proper investigation was carried out’.
The statement added: ‘The club would usually have interviewed their player as part of their investigation, instead they chose to engage in discussions’.
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