A referee in Spain has been sued for five million euros in damages because he is said to have deprived a third division club of promotion to the second division.
The club Nàstic de Tarragona According to media reports, filed the lawsuit against the referee. The background is his appearance in a controversial game against Málaga on June 22nd, which ended 2-2. The draw meant that Málaga was promoted instead of Tarragona.
The sports newspaper “Marca” and other media, the club is demanding compensation of five million euros for the economic and moral damage caused. Antoine Jordà, lawyer and board member of Nàstic, spoke of one “Case of corruption in sports and forgery of an official document” regarding the match report. There is evidence “which demonstrate predetermined behavior to alter the outcome of a game of great economic importance”.
Unique event in Spanish football
Various Spanish media were able to view the court documents. Accordingly, Tarragona accuses the referee Eder Mallo Fernández of intentionally distorting the result of the game while violating the rules “inconsistent” and “in favor of Malaga” to have applied. The game is “irregularly extended” been, “until this team could score a goal”the newspaper quoted “El Pais”.
According to El País, the lawsuit has not yet been admitted for processing. But it is already a unique occurrence in the history of Spanish football that a club has filed a lawsuit against a referee.
Club employs detective agency
Tarragona also presented the court with a report from a detective agency that there had been agreements at a dinner before the game. In addition, the referee is said to have announced in advance that a Tarragona player would be sent off. In the game, the Catalans actually had to play outnumbered from the 63rd minute onwards. In extra time, Málaga made it 2-2 in the 122nd minute and secured promotion to the second division.
“There are things that are unacceptable: this man cannot go unpunished, even though we know that we will not get the promotion back and that he will most likely declare himself bankrupt”said Jordà at a press conference about his club’s actions.