European Football Thread

[Szumi]

Rodriguez is class, and isn't Jackson Martinez Colombian too?

[Lineker]

Monaco have paid 50m euros (£41.5m) to the French league to end a dispute that could have seen the Ligue 1 club forced to move to France for tax reasons. The club are based in a tax-free country where the players get to keep their whole salaries, while in France clubs are liable for a 75% tax on salaries exceeding 1m euros (£830,000). Monaco were threatened with suspension if they did not relocate. However, it appears the issue has been resolved with the French league. "By paying a single lump-sum of 50m euros, payable in installments, AS Monaco demonstrates its commitment to the French football and will thus continue its project to benefit all stakeholders," said a club statement released on Friday.

Barcelona have confirmed that Neymar's parents got £34m of the £48.6m paid for the Brazil striker in June. The 21-year-old's former club Santos received the other £14.6m. Former Barca president Sandro Rosell has resigned over claims that the actual amount paid was more than £48.6m and he misappropriated funds.

[stokeriño]

Unless Monaco are going to pay out 50m euros next year as well (and every year thereafter), it seems a rather pointless end to the faff that was supposed to be about ensuring they don't hold such a massive financial advantage over the other Ligue 1 clubs.

Obviously I'm not counting PSG in that, seeing as they are more than wealthy enough to match wages even with 75% tax and evidently don't give a flying fuck about FFP.

[TCO]

I'd tell the French league to fuck off. They can't overrule politics and Monaco being in Ligue 1 with their spending power will only be a good thing for the league itself.

[METALMAN]

Really? I'd have thought ensuring that all teams are on a level platform would be better.

[stokeriño]

I'd tell the French league to fuck off. They can't overrule politics

They weren't trying to. Their threat was essentially "if you want to play in our league then you have to be based in our country", which has nothing to do with politics because they can run their league how they like.

Whether they were serious or looking for a settlement from the start is another matter.

And clubs with cash injections can boost a league...but when one club can outspend all others on wages by a factor of FOUR? Hmm.

[Lineker]

Italian side Nocerina have been thrown out of the country's third division after players faked injury during November's derby against Salernitana.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) took the action after Nocerina players were reluctant to play following death threats from their own "Ultras" fans.

Nocerina made three substitutions and five players went off injured as the game was called off after 21 minutes.

Fans issued the threats as retaliation for being banned from the game.

The Lega Pro group B encounter in southern Naples, called the "derby of hate" by the Italian media, had already started 40 minutes late with the Nocerina players needing to be persuaded to take the field.

The FIGC's disciplinary body also handed lengthy bans to a number of players and officials and the club were fined 10,000 euros ($13,700).

A FIGC statement read: "Nocerina have been excluded from the Lega Pro championship for sporting fraud and will be assigned by the Federal Council to one of the leagues' lower categories.

"The club has also been fined 10,000 euros. The decision comes into effect immediately and has been announced to the Lega Pro and its stakeholders."

Salernitana's club president Claudio Lotito, who holds the same position at Serie A giants Lazio, compared the Salerno derby to forcing "Israelis to take on the Palestinians".

[Lineker]

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema have been acquitted on charges of soliciting an underage prostitute.

The French judge ruled there was not enough proof the men were aware that the woman involved, who is now 21, was a minor at the time.

The two footballers, who didn't attend the trial, had faced up to three years in prison if found guilty.

[Katsuya]

Racing Santander's players just refused to play their second leg of the Copa del Rey after they've not been paid for four months.

[MDK]

Bloody right too

[EddieG]

I've read six months, and a report saying neither, but just that the club are in financial shit and they want the chairman to leave.

[Lineker]

The club have been fined and banned from next year's competition.

[Summers]

Barca 2 - 3 Valencia!

Superb performance. Quality performances by Feghouli, Parejo and Paco!

[Baddar]

Ronaldo got sent off in Real's 1-1 draw at Bilbao last night. Atletico are now top, following Barca's 3-2 loss against Valencia. Could be an exciting end to the season!

[METALMAN]

I bet you £3 it won't be. Spain is so boring.

[Baddar]

Why £3?

[Crybaby Bunting]

Because it's mean to abuse naivety for serious money.

[Baddar]

A decent night of football on Sky tonight!

It's the Madrid derby at 7, then Barca v Sociedad in the Copa Del Rey semi final first legs. (SS1)

Roma v Napoli is on SS3 from half 7 - that's a first leg semi in the Italian Cup. Udinese beat Fiorentina 2-1 last night. Some cracking goals in that too!

[Lineker]

Or, there's Preston vs. Forest on BT!

[METALMAN]

Bah. Udinese. Bastards.