Sunday, June 17, 2007
Spanish “motivational payments”
Marca, the Spanish daily sports paper, claimed this week that Mallorca have been promised €2 million (about £1.35 million) to undermine Real Madrid’s quest for a first title in four years this weekend.
This follows reports that Real Zaragoza players were paid €50,000 each after their 2-2 draw with Madrid on Saturday. The notion has been rejected, but the intimation is that Barcelona were responsible.
With Madrid, Barcelona and Seville capable of lifting the trophy — a superior head-to-head record is all that keeps Madrid above their fiercest rivals at the top of the table — there has been an added frisson to suggestions that opponents of the country’s two leading clubs might receive “motivational payments” to gain improved results.
This follows reports that Real Zaragoza players were paid €50,000 each after their 2-2 draw with Madrid on Saturday. The notion has been rejected, but the intimation is that Barcelona were responsible.
With Madrid, Barcelona and Seville capable of lifting the trophy — a superior head-to-head record is all that keeps Madrid above their fiercest rivals at the top of the table — there has been an added frisson to suggestions that opponents of the country’s two leading clubs might receive “motivational payments” to gain improved results.
