Tebas renews his LaLiga mandate, Florentino style
Aranzabal drops out of LaLiga presidency race
Álex Aranzabal, the president of Eibar, announced yesterday ‘in extremis’ his withdrawal as a candidate for the LaLiga presidency. It was a while ago when he first put forward the idea, with Florentino Perez (who’s opposed to incumbent LaLiga boss, Javier Tebas) as his backer, but certain doubts mean that time has come down hard on him. The doubts (and the management of deadlines) were created by Tebas, who deployed a strategy (an objectionable one at that) to stay as the only candidate for the presidency. He’s secured 37 guarantees (from a possible 41) and announced a convention. Any opposition candidate needed to collect eleven, without duplication.
Tebas unrivalled: Florentino style
Aranzabal, then, or any other candidate, could only get five, let’s say, free from prior commitment. They tried, but it had already been given to Tebas. Aranzabal tried to eliminate the objections to duplications, but did not succeed. And now he’s withdrawn, but not without complaints. Tebas meanwhile, continues unrivalled, Florentino style; without debate, and without contrasting ideas put forward. It’s not as bad as it is at Real Madrid, where just to run for presidency you must have the first name, Florentino, and surname Perez, but Tebas has acted with Machiavellianism to avoid elections.
Dodges elections at expense of different ideas
And so he continues, much to the anger of all of Spain’s ultras who detest Tebas because he forces them to register (one of many good things he has done). Many of his past maneuvers have displeased me to the extreme, but it is a clear case of arsonist reformed as a fireman. As president of LaLiga, he is setting a before and after in Spanish football. He’s increased revenue, gained control of spending, extended the brand, and – something which is a shame – begun to pursue trickery. Indeed it’s a shame that he’s dodged elections at the expense of an – always healthy – contrast of ideas.