Elche President Juan Anguix has accused Miguel Cardenal of telling the mayor of Elche the club wouldn’t go down and question a tax bill double standard.
Los Franjiverdes’ relegation was this week confirmed when a High Court judge rejected the club’s request for an injunction against their demotion.
Elche finished the season comfortably in mid-table but were relegated to the Segunda as a result of an unpaid tax bill, with Eibar the beneficiaries.
Anguix argues, however, that soon Elche will be completely debt free but relegated, while other clubs are free to maintain their tax debts in the Primera, and that Elche’s debt was racked up under the previous administration.
He also claimed Cardenal, the Secretary of State for Sport, told Mercdes Alonso, the mayor of Elche, that the club would remain in the top flight once their debts were cleared, which proved to be incorrect.
“Mr Cardenal assured the mayor that if we paid we were in the Primera,” Anguix said, AS reports.
“Elche has zero debt, but we know there are clubs with €40m, €50m, or more of debt. It was necessary to give a severe warning about debt to the football world and it has happened to Elche.
“Although we paid in time and had the forms the situation hasn’t changed. I think Javier Tebas had already made the decision and was already telling us in January or February we would be relegated.
“We’ve paid, we’re at zero debt, in a month Elche will owe nothing to the Treasury and we know there are clubs with debt.
“Why doesn’t the League answer our request that clubs in the Primera and Segunda have are certified? Very few clubs can say they have zero debt to the Treasury. I don’t understand why it’s the club that’s sacrificed when it’s not responsible for the debt.”
Picture via @ElcheOficial
