@kaybaba99Remember those El Clasico corruption claims which rocked La Liga and the football world early last week?
Well, for those who missed it or to refresh your memory in case you forgot, one of the proposed match officials for the November 14 instalment of the El-clasico claimed he was contacted by the referee for the game who told him he (the referee) had received instructions from the Spanish refereeing committee to favour Real Madrid in the game.
The assistant referee refused to go along with the request and reportedly received a threatening phone call from Jose Angel Jimenez Munoz de Morales, a member of the refereeing committee, to apply extra pressure.
Although the Spanish football authorities have ordered an investigation into this scandal, the speed with which the matter was taken off the front-burner of national discourse is alarming and leaves you missing the English press with their over-bearing attitude.
If this incident had happened in England, you can bet your last copper that copious amount of newsprint and television airtime would have been dedicated to the issue. For good measure, it would have gone as far as the House of Commons, their own version of our National Assembly.
I’m reminded of a few years back when a scandal broke that players were ‘spot-fixing’ in cricket in England and you’ll be amazed at the uproar that greeted the news until heavy punishment was meted out to those found guilty.
Although Jimenez has responded to the claims and furiously denied it, we all should feel sufficiently concerned that anything tarnishes the image and integrity of el-clasico.
One, it is the biggest fixture in world club football. Everything stands still when the Clasico is on and if we are left with a feeling that whatever we witness on the pitch had been decided in the boardroom, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Secondly, I’m convinced that Real Madrid as presently constituted, do not need the aid of any external influence to beat any team in La Liga so it will be unfair if the matter is not thoroughly investigated and, if found to be blameless, an apology should be tendered to Los Blancos.
Thirdly, Barcelona are apparently at the receiving end of the plot if it is true and it would amount to injustice if they would have been cheated had the fraud not been reported. It would also serve the cause of justice to know how long this underhand dealings have been going on and who had been benefitting from such infractions.
I have not accused anybody but I would be interested in how this issue is ultimately resolved. Until it is resolved to the satisfaction of all and any guilty party heavily punished, La Liga is deemed to be on trial.
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