Monday, September 6, 2010

Very Very Samper....

Although it may sound like the typical cliche, the refereeing decisions suffered by Real Murcia over the last 3 years cannot be decribed as normal. I can understand that during 07/08 in Primera we were just a referee's plaything, to be used and abused to correct any statistics the ref in question needed to balance, it is less understandable in segunda, where Real Murcia are the leader in finishing first and promotions. So it's quite incredible that in segunda B we still get a raw deal.

What is behind this? There are conspiracy theories. A few seasons ago, Real Murcia decided to unilaterally negociate their own TV deal, and this upset the League, who (in the person of Javier Tebas, currently vice-president) took Real Murcia to court. The Tebas - Samper relationship is terrible - and despite Samper's Santa Monica company holding rights to the national side's advertising (and being Euro and World Cup winners must have Santa Monica raking it in), Tebas seems to hold more influence, and the conspiracy theory goes that we (or Samper personally) are being punished.

The club have remained strangely silent whilst all the inexplicable decisions went against us. The attitude seems to be "don't rock the boat". They may or may not be shenanigans going on, but, as they say in Spain...."el que no llora, no mama" (something like "a baby that doesn't cry, gets no milk"). And except the 5 or so games we had Juan Guillamon as president (ahem....5 wins), no comment has been made in public.

Cue the miniature Hitler that came to distribute justice on Saturday at the New Condo. Samper had the following to say :

"I am not going to protest in any way to the federation about the referee, as referees are human. I only ask that they (the refs) don't feel frightened by the scenario. I am worried by the protagonism that they want to have. We are in segunda B even though we have a first division stadium. they should referee as they see the game"

About the fans he said that :

"I am perplexed that some have jumped from their seats. I don't know if they are used to it and think we are going to win every game. Since we are in this division we have to be humble. That they are angry I respect, but I am surprised that they have started shouting at us first off".

So some comment about the referee - but very decafinated, very typical of the way Samper likes to do things (and there we are in Segunda B). What I would give for a hot headed full bloodied nutcase, thumping the table and threatening to withdraw the side. It works for everyone else. This is Spain....histrionics and theatre go a long way. It's too late now, but some spittle and clenched fists could have saved us from relegation.


Photo : Lawyer Javier Tebas......conspiracy theorists think he may be behind our "bad luck" with referees.

2 comments:

  1. IT IS THE FIRST TIME I WRITE IN THIS BLOG , I WILL TRY TO WRITE IN ENGLISH SO IS POSIBLE I HAVE SOME MISTAKES.
    ABOUT THE TOPIC, I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT COULD BE A "BLACK HAND" BEHIND THE REFEREES MATTER BUT BEING UNCLE SAMPER SO POWERFUL ITS POSIBLE THAT A LOT OF FOOTBALL PEOPLE COULD BE ENVIOUS ABOUT HIS BUSINESS AND COMPANIES . THE QUESTION I MAKE MY SELF IS WHY UNCLE SAMPER DONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS , WHY IF HE IS SO POWERFULL USE THIS POWER TO PROTEC REAL MURCIA FROM THIS UNJUSTICE, DOES JESUS SAMPER HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE AND HE PREFER TO BE IN SILENCE DISPITE THIS SILENCE DAMAGE ONE OF HIS "COMPANIES " ( NOT THE MOST BENEFICIAL FOR HIM AND HIS PEOPLE). I THINK REAL MURCIA IS ONE OF THE BUSINESS FOR THIS MAN AND NOT MOST IMPORTANT FOR HIM, ITS ONLY A ONLY A GAME A HOBBY FOR HIM.

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  2. Ruben....thanks for commenting....perfect English!

    Sometimes Samper is difficult to figure; on one hand you see a man who "saved" the club in 98, a man with the vision to buy the club on the cheap and a plan to develop land including a new stadium, a man who has maintained the club for 13 years now, and took us to promotion to primera twice. On the other hand you have the painfully slow decisions about the club, the seemingly indolent attitude to circumstances, the silence when the club is being abused, but vociferous protest when it is Samper himself being questioned, his insistence on having his yes men and not talented, hungry professionals in key positions (his brother, a lawyer, being director of football was never going to work. That's like having a doctor pilot an airplane. The appointment of Serantes as president was quite incredible. Even as far as the team coach was concerned....his amigos Clemente and Toshack were a disaster), The Tebas question, the debt that has mounted under his stewardship, the "organized and not traumatic" relegations from primera, and now another relegation to segunda B....etc. etc.

    It's a pity, as I think the move to the NC and promotion to primera was a great opportunity for Real Murcia. I think we had a reasonable side to survive, but again when there were 50/50 decisions the refs always went the easy route, as no-one ever protested (and that goes for the fans also - preferring to run home rather than make a fuss).

    I think you are right in that it is a hobby for him. Football isn't big business, I'm sure any of his other companies turnover's dwarf the football club's. But that doesn't justify the silence on certain issues......how hard can it be and what damage can be done to him, his businesses, or the club, by saying he/the club are sick of being on the wrong end of poor refereeing?

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