The Inevitable Scandal

Overpriced transfers, large salaries, unhealthy competition and fiscally careless management are to blame for the current match fixing scandal occurring in Spanish football. With demotion stripping clubs of much needed funds, teams have to do everything in their power to make money – even if it forces them to break the law.

By 2011, one year after winning the World Cup, 22 Spanish clubs went into bankruptcy protection. In March 2012, after it was revealed that Spanish clubs owe approximately €700m in taxes, Bayern Munich’s President Uli Hoenessopenly remarked "We [Germany] pay them [Spain] hundreds of millions to get them out the s*** and then the clubs don't pay their debts." In April 2012, it was stated that the Spanish Government would not offer any public aid or pardon the football clubs who owe the state. Yet, since last year, clubs have only reduced their debt by 8%.

In March, the European Commission opened an inquiry, with regards to public funding of football teams. Just why was the state seemingly allowing clubs preferential treatment?

Fear has allowed the Spanish government to procrastinate in nipping the financial problem in the bud. Football is one of the few joys in life, with Spain scaling new heights within the sport. It quickly turned into a source of pride. Asking heavily supported clubs to pay taxes, the government feared, would be bad PR for the leaders who sought to avoid unrest amongst the fans. Fans, they thought, would look unfavourably towards the government that halted their club from purchasing or indeed keeping their players. Somehow one imagines a disgruntled supporter would much prefer to have a job than watch his side circumvent the system.

Instead the problem has been allowed to thrive, allowing clubs to rack up ludicrously high debts that may well force several sides into extinction.

It is not only the fear of debt but also the prospect of increased funds that may well push clubs into breaking the rules. “Dani Mallo, the captain of my club, came to visit me and told me that a Xerez player had offered to let us win in exchange for €120,000,” explained Joaquim Boadas, the Girona President. Xerez players had apparently already been offered €20,000 per player to win the game by an unnamed source but they thought it impossible. It was though, very possible, as the Catalan side went on to win. According to El Pais, Boadas suspects it was one of the teams up for promotion alongside his Girona side that made the €20,000 per player offer in order to get ahead.

Procrastination and the need to make or keep money has forced clubs into disarray. Fiscal management was not an option when a depressed nation relied on football to lift their moods. Without sensible compromises made early on, is it any wonder that Spanish football now finds itself in the midst of a scandal?

La Liga - Club News