Linesman claims to have been told to favour Real Madrid in La Liga clash with Barcelona

[Dharmabum]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...o-favour-real-madrid-in-la-liga-a6703841.html

El Clasico corruption scandal: Linesman claims to have been told to favour Real Madrid in La Liga clash with Barcelona


Spanish football has found itself at the centre of a corruption scandal surrounding its biggest match of the season after a linesman made a complaint to police after being approached and told to favour Real Madrid in next month’s El Clasico with Barcelona.

A report in the Daily Mail on Thursday revealed that anti-corruption officials are taking the claims seriously, although the identities of the match officials are being kept secret due to a fear of reprisals against them.

It is understood that one of the pre-designated linesmen had been contacted by the match referee, and informed that the refereeing committee are pressuring him in to favouring Real with his decisions in their clash with fierce rivals Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on 21 November.

The linesman has also reported Jose Angel Jimenez Munoz de Morales, a member of the referees’ committee, for allegedly contacting him directly to put extra pressure on the official to rule in Real’s favour.

Munoz de Morales has denied any wrongdoing, and said on Wednesday night: "I have no idea where they come from. It is like something out of a Kafka novel."

The claims come just two months after the Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, claimed it would be made easier for Real to win La Liga this season due to the reputation of the club meaning that one title in seven years is not enough.

Simeone said: “The league is dangerously prepared for Real Madrid. Madrid cannot go seven years with only winning one league. This year I think that sadly it is difficult to see another team winning it.”

Real were infuriated by the claims, and supporters insist there cannot be a conspiracy due to the number of penalties that Barcelona have received compared to their own side. Real have seen just one spot-kick go their way this season compared to the seven that the Catalans have already received, and have claimed that any favouritism from referees would surely see this number increase.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Come back Bale. Get out of that cesspit.

 

[nightgoat]

Another wake up call for all those who think the Premier League is immune to corruption and match fixing.

 

[thinktank]

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Another wake up call for all those who think the Premier League is immune to corruption and match fixing.

Except Real and Barca both play in La Liga mate, not the Premier League FYI

 

[Gassin's finest]

Must be some stones on that linesman, to fess up to something that everyone has pretty much assumed for as long as the game has been going on.

Wish someone would come out about the number of ref's who bowed to "Fergie Time".

 

[Lufti]

Except Real and Barca both play in La Liga mate, not the Premier League FYI

Does make you wonder though, especially with this coming after Germany supposedly bought the 2006 World Cup. Where does the corruption begin and end?

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Where does the corruption begin and end?

corruption

 

[Lufti]

corruption

Corion? If you're quoting me to explain it, I got it okay!

 

[nightgoat]

Except Real and Barca both play in La Liga mate, not the Premier League FYI

Do they?

You know what I mean. If it happens in Big Spanish League then it would be no surprise if it happened in Big English League.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Do they?

You know what I mean. If it happens in Big Spanish League then it would be no surprise if it happened in Big English League.

I did know what you meant hence the winky-face

I've got no real idea but my gut feeling is that corruption will be worse in Spain/ France/ Italy than UK

 

[nightgoat]

I did know what you meant hence the winky-face

I've got no real idea but my gut feeling is that corruption will be worse in Spain/ France/ Italy than UK

 

[Danners9]

I did know what you meant hence the winky-face

I've got no real idea but my gut feeling is that corruption will be worse in Spain/ France/ Italy than UK

I have the same feelings.

Some teams are favoured, not always as obviously as this season's Liverpool v Bournemouth but like when a team used to go to Old Trafford they would find both of the centre backs booked for nothing quite early on. Similar fouls on that team's players wouldn't receive bookings so that Man Utd can play against an angry and distracted team.

I also think Mourinho is right and there is a campaign against Chelsea, but it's of their own doing. A backlash because the officials as a whole are pissed off with them, so now Mourinho whinges about it and makes it worse. Before they would get the easy decisions, like when Ramires runs into a WBA player to get them a late pen and they win. Not so much now. Arsenal get those decisions now.

 

[JerryGarcia]

All they would have to do to influence the game is break up the play by giving minor fouls at key moments, allowing their prefered team to keep getting the ball back.

Most of the top teams would only need a slight advantage to be able to get a win and there have been loads of games where I've wondered if this was going on. Madrid can talk about a lack of penalties but it wouldn't have to be that blatant and the players and coaching staff wouldn't need to know if anything was going on.

 

[Lufti]

This probably confirms many suspicions we've had - Graham Poll on Mourinho:

“Mourinho likes referees to favour his teams, he wants them to be seen by him as ‘friends’

After Chelsea lost to Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup semi-final, he told me I could no longer be seen by him as a friend because no friend would allow his team to lose such a match.

Referees who are described as ‘weak and naive’ by Jose Mourinho will probably think he is pathetic and childish, but they have more sense than to drop to his level. What those comments will definitely not do is affect decision-making — referees will not award Chelsea more or fewer free-kicks or penalties.

Referees always go on to the pitch with the desire and intention to be impartial, whatever history exists between them and the players or managers.”

 

[spursfan77]

Throughout the years there's been allegations of match fixing in loads of countries around Europe. I've always wondered why the English media have been arrogant enough to portray our league as white as white and that kind of thing doesn't happen in England. I'd be astounded if there hasn't been a single match ever fixed in this country and i would be astounded if there has never been a single official asked to influence a result in a certain way. Whether they have or not is another thing entirely.

 

[Veuve Clicquot]

Throughout the years there's been allegations of match fixing in loads of countries around Europe. I've always wondered why the English media have been arrogant enough to portray our league as white as white and that kind of thing doesn't happen in England. I'd be astounded if there hasn't been a single match ever fixed in this country and i would be astounded if there has never been a single official asked to influence a result in a certain way. Whether they have or not is another thing entirely.

I still think that Martin Fulops performance in goal for wba against the Arse was worthy of investigation. He pretty much threw the ball in his own net for one of the goals. Also what a coincidence it was the only match Ben Foster missed the whole season and Fulop left wba straight after that match. Highly suspicious.

 

[riggi]

hilarious

 

[Dharmabum]

I still think that Martin Fulops performance in goal for wba against the Arse was worthy of investigation. He pretty much threw the ball in his own net for one of the goals. Also what a coincidence it was the only match Ben Foster missed the whole season and Fulop left wba straight after that match. Highly suspicious.

Actually I remember this case was discussed in length at that time - albeit not in depth as there are little proof so far. But if you look at the last goal he "gave" them it looks as if he's got his eyes on the Arsenal player as he punches the ball to him...
I have little doubts in my mind.

 

[Dharmabum]

I have the same feelings.

Some teams are favoured, not always as obviously as this season's Liverpool v Bournemouth but like when a team used to go to Old Trafford they would find both of the centre backs booked for nothing quite early on. Similar fouls on that team's players wouldn't receive bookings so that Man Utd can play against an angry and distracted team.

I also think Mourinho is right and there is a campaign against Chelsea, but it's of their own doing. A backlash because the officials as a whole are pissed off with them, so now Mourinho whinges about it and makes it worse. Before they would get the easy decisions, like when Ramires runs into a WBA player to get them a late pen and they win. Not so much now. Arsenal get those decisions now.

It seem to go in waves - maybe so no one will be caught. And it is suspicious even how the ref's association ALWAYS protect each others and how heavily players and managers get punish even when they criticize a ref for very obvious wrong decisions.
I remember Arsenal in their hey-days and how their players got so many wrong penalties and free-kicks from diving. And, as you mentioned, during Fergie it was so obvious they got favoured by refs (gosh, Spurs even scored a perfect goal that was disallowed because only 3 people in the whole stadium didn't see: ).