Our report from week
commencing 20th December 1999:
The big news of the week was
the sentence by judge García Castellón removing Atlético
de Madrid president Jesus Gil and his entire board, and putting an embargo on
the club's assets. The sentence makes strong reading. Gil is accused of several
things, including illegally taking a majority share in the club, awarding
himself and partner Enrique Cerezo 94.5% of the share capital without paying in
any capital when the club was incorporated under the sporting companies act.
Accounts were apparently falsified to show the club was solvent, which allowed
them to remain in the first division, and also take advantage of government
subsidies and tax relief, which ended up in the hands of management rather than
the club. As a result of the club illegally staying in the top category
(insolvent clubs should be relegated) they are also accused of negatively
affecting several other clubs who were wrongly relegated or missed out on
European competitions (32 clubs are named). Perhaps the most damning accusation
however is that four players whose rights were owned by Gil's private company
Promociones Futbolisticas, S.A. were transferred to Atlético de Madrid
at exorbitant prices to pay off a debt which Gil had run up with the club of
2,700 million Pesetas. One of these, for example, Angolan refugee Bernado Djana
is described as a construction worker who was transferred for 2 million
Dollars. Another youngster, Maximillian Oliveira, was transferred for 1,100
million Pesetas when his rights already belonged to the club. In all the judge
has accused Gil and his associates of expropriating 8,600 million Pesetas from
the club. Luis Manuel Rubí Blanc has been named as legal administrator
by the judge, and he will take over as president of the club. Jesus Gil denies
any wrong doing, and has asked for his arguments to be heard, claiming that the
whole thing is being orchestrated by his political enemies. We await his
explanation. |