The man heading the European Commission’s investigations into Spanish football has revealed that they have come about after complaints were received.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao are alleged to have benefited from illegal state aid in the form of a reduced tax rate, for not being registered corporations like the other clubs in La Liga.
Valencia, Elche and Hercules are under investigation for having bank loans taken out between 2009 and 2013 and totalling €118m guaranteed by the local city government.
Madrid are also under investigation over land exchange deals with the capital city’s council, which included the trade
“The Commission, on the matter of state aid, has exclusive jurisdiction throughout the European Union to analyse state aid and check that it is compatible with the rules. We can act automatically, upon a complaint or on the basis of prior notification by the member state granting the aid. In the three cases of investigation opened regarding Spanish football, we have acted on complaints.
“Have we stirred a hornet’s nest? We act not when there are hornets in the environment, but when there is information, or a complaint.
“Then we try to check the information, to understand what the situation is and if at that time we have reasonable doubts about the existence of public aid which is not compatible with European law, we formally open an investigation.
“We have opened three in Spanish football and not all cases are identical. Each has its own characteristics, its own origin, and has a required task of checking and analysing different events.”
“I don’t know. He knows why he has said that. The decision was taken by the European Commission to open an investigation into state aid and I assure you that it is not in response to any campaign in Spain, or Holland, or Latvia, or anywhere.
“Who has denounced the Spanish clubs then? I have said, there have been complaints…
“From German clubs? We cannot say from whom. We can only confirm that there is a complaint that has been made explicit and in this case was done through various means, questions in parliament…
“I can say that someone who has filed a complaint can go public, but that is their right, not mine. I cannot say who has provided us information.”
