Real Madrid and Barcelona to face European Union investigation

peterman · Dec 17, 2013

Real Madrid and Barcelona are among seven Spanish clubs to be investigated over alleged illegal state aid.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25410320

The Spanish foreign ministry announced that the European Commission will also begin proceedings against Osasuna, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia and Elche.

Hercules, who play in the second tier, are also under investigation.
What is the European Commission?

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and day-to-day running of the EU

"The government will fight to defend Spanish clubs because they're also part of the Spanish brand," said foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo.

The proceedings could take months to conclude and will be officially announced on Wednesday added Margallo, who denied the clubs had broken EU rules.

He said Barcelona, Real Madrid, Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao are accused of contravening European Union rules because they are still owned by their members and had benefited from favourable tax treatment.

The Commission was also probing Real over their training facilities and Bilbao over aid they received for the construction of their new stadium, which opened this season, he added.

Valencia, Elche and Hercules were being investigated because of help the three clubs received from the regional government in the form of loans and bank guarantees.

Andy Christ · Dec 17, 2013

so what, it's not a sporting organization.

Johan · Dec 17, 2013

peterman said:
"The government will fight to defend Spanish clubs because they're also part of the Spanish brand," said foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo.

normally I thought they would say something like: "We will give the investigators full Corporation to show that no wrongdoings have been made"

Firdaus · Dec 17, 2013

Johan said:
normally I thought they would say something like: "We will give the investigators full Corporation to show that no wrongdoings have been made"

Yeah, exactly. It's an investigation; they haven't been charged yet.

A10 · Dec 17, 2013

The Commission was also probing Real over their training facilities

State aided training Facilities?

Arent RM the richest in terms of Revenue....Popularity... Brand

Does that mean a potential ban from Europe and no more La Decima for the next 10 years?

Oh... Barca too!... surely they do not need state-aid, they dont need much money, their players are all super rated and underpaid... and Happy.

EU wrong to investigate Barca.. Just Wrong!

Aquilina · Dec 17, 2013

EU is becoming out of control, trying to suppress every last bit of socialist remnants. I don't agree with the way these clubs run things, but they are owned by fans, owned by the City, have significant cultural impact so I don't see it as a problem it City of Barcelona put in a few billion to help out.

Johan · Dec 17, 2013

Aquilina said:
EU is becoming out of control, trying to suppress every last bit of socialist remnants. I don't agree with the way these clubs run things, but they are owned by fans, owned by the City, have significant cultural impact so I don't see it as a problem it City of Barcelona put in a few billion to help out.

it becomes a problem when EU spends billions to support Spain and to create jobs there and then they find those billions were all spent on Gareth Bale migrating.

bayernoatcake · Dec 17, 2013

They should investigate Port Vale. Our Council gave them soft gits about 2 million quid they never saw back. Where are You are on that one You European Union ****ers!

In all seriousness though, surely it's nothing to do with them? What they stick their noses in nowadays is getting beyond a joke.

Friki · Dec 17, 2013

A lot of Swedish cities should be investigated aswell

Madman · Dec 17, 2013

bayernoatcake said:
They should investigate Port Vale. Our Council gave them soft gits about 2 million quid they never saw back. Where are You are on that one You European Union ****ers!

In all seriousness though, surely it's nothing to do with them? What they stick their noses in nowadays is getting beyond a joke.

Read Johans comment.

GICA · Dec 17, 2013

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao are accused of contravening European Union rules because they are still owned by their members

All the teams should be owned by their members, and not by mafiots. That would be the ideal thing.

But in an ideal world EU wouldn't exist.

Tony75 · Dec 17, 2013

Johan said:
it becomes a problem when EU spends billions to support Spain and to create jobs there and then they find those billions were all spent on Gareth Bale migrating.

If not mistaken it has the highest unemployment rate for people under 25 in the EU.

The reply from the Spanish government is a joke.

Wonder if they've destroyed all those blood samples found in the Fuentes case yet??

DEportivo · Dec 17, 2013

First of all, what the fvck has the general level of corruption in Spain, blood samples and EU investigation into possible case of state aid in common?

The idea of private entities not being somehow subsidized by member states, is one really important piece of EU legislation but weirdly there are quite a lot of ways and conditions using which state aid is allowed. And its pefectly normal that the member state woukd stand for their interests. These all include anti-dumping, state-aid etc .

The amount of investigations done, is not exactly small. Currently for example you have a fairly large number of national carriers being investigated for potential cases of state-aids due to the overall shitty state of the aviation industry.

So up yours, for the ******* trying to paint this as part of their picture of bad spanish football clubs being bailed out by the noble Germans. Its an investigation into possible case of state aid where the EU comission is whether looking to determine whether what has happened to the clubs is against the EU rules and if so, these to be ceased immediately and possibly some fines if not done so. And The EU Commission gets it wrong a lot of times.

bayernoatcake · Dec 17, 2013

Madman said:
Read Johans comment.

Irrespective, it's just an excuse for the EU to get their grubby feet further under the table in singular European countries. I'm not completely anti-EU, I can see why it's useful. But even if they've bailed them out, I don't think they have a right to tell them how they should spend that money. I don't think they should have bailed them out but that's a different matter.

Tony75 · Dec 17, 2013

DEportivo said:
First of all, what the fvck has the general level of corruption in Spain, blood samples and EU investigation into possible case of state aid in common?

Spanish teams are getting aid from Spanish government who is getting aid from EU.

This money should be going into job creating and education, but is being given to spoilt millionaires so they can continue to buy expensive cars and their handbags (ronaldo).

The clubs need to win to facilitate their spending so hire doctors to dope their players, which also keeps the general masses a bit calmer as their team is playing well and winning.

These doctors of course aren't on the breadline and will ask for a lot of money to keep quiet and try to maintain the status quo of the Spanish team's successes since 2008, and also Barca's level of success over the same period.

Thus goes the circle, and all are happy in ignorance.

DEportivo · Dec 17, 2013

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-192_en.htm

Just a hint that the whole Da Vinci code like train of thought might suit a David Icke attended conferences.

1. As explained before, its EU commissions job to investigate whether state aid has been given. But as far as i see it, one could actually make a good case that keeping Valencia alive actually keeps a number of jobs available. Which is moot point as youd need a permission beforehand.

You point out the Ronaldo handbag situation but when in fact the investigation is into clubs like Levante whose summer signing process looks something along the lines of who is available for free or on a free loan. As well as pointing out that clubs like Bilbao, Osasuna, Barca, Real are actually fan owned and therefor weirdly act as sort of non-beneficiary organisations. I know some like to make jokes about it but all of these clubs are more then just a billionaires playtoy or Amercians investment.

2. Given that the Spanish sports system does not seem to have a clearcut advantage over others i tend to think that they do not dope as much. GB has seen an outbreak of a lot of top pedigree cyclists during the past seasons. This was done because of a revised system and improved investments. To justify investments, using the same logic, Gb would be inclined to use doping as well.

So its only the BS allegations that go around in circles.

Hala Madrid · Dec 17, 2013

So let me get this straight. Real Madrid, Barca, Athletic and Osasuna are being investigated for being owned by their fans while clubs like Chelsea, Monaco etc. are owned by Russian mafiosos which god knows where their money comes from? Then PSG and Man City should be investigated as well for having Arab owners who's money came from foreign slave blood.

Not saying Real and Barca are angels and need to be looked at for other things (TV revenue sharing eg.) but this is absolutely ridiculous by the EU.

R10! · Dec 18, 2013

Hala Madrid said:
So let me get this straight. Real Madrid, Barca, Athletic and Osasuna are being investigated for being owned by their fans while clubs like Chelsea, Monaco etc. are owned by Russian mafiosos which god knows where their money comes from? Then PSG and Man City should be investigated as well for having Arab owners who's money came from foreign slave blood.

Not saying Real and Barca are angels and need to be looked at for other things (TV revenue sharing eg.) but this is absolutely ridiculous by the EU.

Fire with Fire, Ignorance with Ignorace.

roud:

Firdaus · Dec 18, 2013

DEportivo said:
First of all, what the fvck has the general level of corruption in Spain, blood samples and EU investigation into possible case of state aid in common?

The idea of private entities not being somehow subsidized by member states, is one really important piece of EU legislation but weirdly there are quite a lot of ways and conditions using which state aid is allowed. And its pefectly normal that the member state woukd stand for their interests. These all include anti-dumping, state-aid etc .

The amount of investigations done, is not exactly small. Currently for example you have a fairly large number of national carriers being investigated for potential cases of state-aids due to the overall shitty state of the aviation industry.

So up yours, for the ******* trying to paint this as part of their picture of bad spanish football clubs being bailed out by the noble Germans. Its an investigation into possible case of state aid where the EU comission is whether looking to determine whether what has happened to the clubs is against the EU rules and if so, these to be ceased immediately and possibly some fines if not done so. And The EU Commission gets it wrong a lot of times.

Firdaus · Dec 18, 2013

Hala Madrid said:
So let me get this straight. Real Madrid, Barca, Athletic and Osasuna are being investigated for being owned by their fans while clubs like Chelsea, Monaco etc. are owned by Russian mafiosos which god knows where their money comes from? Then PSG and Man City should be investigated as well for having Arab owners who's money came from foreign slave blood.

Not saying Real and Barca are angels and need to be looked at for other things (TV revenue sharing eg.) but this is absolutely ridiculous by the EU.

Real Madrid and Barcelona to face European Union investigation

peterman

Andy Christ

Johan

Firdaus

A10

Aquilina

Johan

bayernoatcake

Friki

Madman

GICA

Tony75

DEportivo

bayernoatcake

Tony75

DEportivo

Hala Madrid

R10!

Firdaus

Firdaus

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