phonics
22-10-2015, 02:00 PM
The linesman alleged that he was told that officials had already acted to influence the outcome of games and that another linesman has been subjected to similar pressures. According to his lawyer, Jacinto Vicente Hernández, an expert in sports law based in Barcelona, the linesman wanted to go public with the allegations but he persuaded his client to make a formal, legal statement to the anti-corruption investigating magistrate instead. The Guardia Civil has also been informed.
The story was broken by the Catalan newspaper L’Esportiu on Wednesday and followed up by Cadena Cope radio station. It has made a huge impact in Spain, even if there are doubts that anything will come of it. The “denuncia” or formal complaint made by the linesman through his lawyer, dated 19 October, has been published. In it, the linesman recognises that a telephone conversation he says took place was not recorded and that there is no concrete proof, but expresses the hope that the other linesman will also come forward.
José Ángel Jiménez Muñoz, who is reported as being the member of the referee’s committee accused of having made the telephone call to the linesman in question to apply extra pressure, said late on Wednesday night that he had not yet had the chance to read the “denuncia” but said of the allegations: “I have no idea where they come from. It is like something out of a Kafka novel.” Barcelona’s vice-president Susana Monje said: “I hope it does not prove to be true.”
Later, she added: “We will possibly discuss at it a meeting of the board. All I can say at the moment is that if it is confirmed, it will be dangerous story in terms of the prestige of La Liga (http://www.theguardian.com/football/laligafootball).” The claims have not been substantiated.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/22/real-madrid-barcelona-linesman-clasico-match-fixing?CMP=twt_gu
The story was broken by the Catalan newspaper L’Esportiu on Wednesday and followed up by Cadena Cope radio station. It has made a huge impact in Spain, even if there are doubts that anything will come of it. The “denuncia” or formal complaint made by the linesman through his lawyer, dated 19 October, has been published. In it, the linesman recognises that a telephone conversation he says took place was not recorded and that there is no concrete proof, but expresses the hope that the other linesman will also come forward.
José Ángel Jiménez Muñoz, who is reported as being the member of the referee’s committee accused of having made the telephone call to the linesman in question to apply extra pressure, said late on Wednesday night that he had not yet had the chance to read the “denuncia” but said of the allegations: “I have no idea where they come from. It is like something out of a Kafka novel.” Barcelona’s vice-president Susana Monje said: “I hope it does not prove to be true.”
Later, she added: “We will possibly discuss at it a meeting of the board. All I can say at the moment is that if it is confirmed, it will be dangerous story in terms of the prestige of La Liga (http://www.theguardian.com/football/laligafootball).” The claims have not been substantiated.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/oct/22/real-madrid-barcelona-linesman-clasico-match-fixing?CMP=twt_gu