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Cada vez más triste y ridícula la política del fútbol y la tele en este país.

Re: Jornada 16 primera division

El Villarreal está en una racha espectacular, incluida la victoria en el Calderón, y con un Vietto sensacional.

Re: Jornada 16 primera division

Hernandez Hernandez en su linea. Que haya llegado a primera, y que siga, es de vergüenza.
Y Gurpegui que se retire ya.

Re: Jornada 16 primera division

AFE reveal alarming rise in debts owed to players by La Liga clubs

The Spanish Footballer’s Association (AFE) has announced that for December 2014, there has been a stark rise in complaints from players regarding unpaid wages, compared to 2013 and 2014 in the Primera and Segunda, whilst cases have reduced significantly in the Segunda B.

Towards the end of each financial year in Spain, running from January to December, each season the Spanish Footballer’s Association (AFE), announces the number of open cases, whereby players have issued complaints regarding non-payment of salaries.

Whilst the Professional Football League (LFP), responsible for the top two tiers of the Spanish game, the Primera and the Segunda, have over recent months issued a fanfare of announcements regarding the significant reductions in overall debts amongst clubs, there is actually a huge increase in debts to players, according to the latest AFE announcement.

In the Primera and Segunda, AFE have published figures showing they have open complaint cases with 60 players, against a total of 13 clubs in the top divisions governed by the LFP. The total owed to players within the report period of December 2014 amounts to a worrying sum of just over €7 million. (€7,003,019.44 to be precise).

Most alarming in the context of the AFE report, is when this sum is put into perspective compared to the 2013 figures. 34 complaint cases by players against 13 clubs, for a total of €1,533,319.39 and a rising difference of 357% for the same period in 2014. Also, debts by clubs to players in unpaid wages and fees has risen year on year since December 2012.

The following chart from the AFE clearly shows the rise in debts to players by clubs in the Primera and Segunda, along with the number of open complaint cases, which has risen so alarmingly and particularly, in 2014.

Part of the reason for such a sharp rise in debts to players, believes AFE, could be – to use the English phrase, ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ – situation clubs are currently facing in order to successfully reduce overall debt figures, particularly when it comes to tax and social security payments. Essentially, whilst clubs are reducing overall debts in this regard according to various LFP announcements over recent months, instead, the players are bearing the brunt of clubs shuffling their finances, with salary payments overdue, delayed or even not forthcoming at all in some cases.

Interestingly however and bucking the trend of the top-flight clubs, in the Segunda B, the third-tier of Spanish football, things are looking decidedly more positive. Debts by clubs to players are actually falling year on year since December 2011. The AFE have praised the RFEF (The Royal Spanish Football Federation) who govern the competitions at this level and the clubs, for their firm commitment in reducing the number of cases and debts owed to players.

The following chart from the AFE demonstrates the welcome decline of debts owed by clubs to players, from December 2011 to December 2014, in Segunda B.

Also within the AFE report is the assurance that all cases will be presented in mixed AFE-LFP and AFE-RFEF commissions, in order to resolve the cases in question, in an attempt to reach amicable solutions on the part of those they represent, the players, and all the clubs concerned. In the meantime, all cases are being studied fully, with clubs afforded the opportunity to respond to the presented complaints raised by players.

In the past however and in the most severe circumstances, punishment levied against clubs for non-payment of players has included administrative relegation.

Re: Jornada 16 primera division

After being dominated by the hosts in the first half, Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid mounted a valiant fightback to round out 4-1 winners at San Mamés, largely thanks to an impressive hat-trick by summer signing Antoine Griezmann.

With Atlético Madrid coming into San Mamés without a win in their last two games, the home side looked to be set out to get after the champions early on, in an attempt to prolong their minor hiccup. And that’s just what Ernesto Valverde’s team achieved in the first half, as they went in at the break 1-0 up.

The goal arrived in the 17th minute from a Markel Susaeta free kick, after Atlético uncharacteristically made a mess of their set piece marking. Making deep runs from inside the box, a number of Athletic players managed to escape their markers, but it was Mikel Rico who headed in at the front of the pack.

Valverde’s side matched Atlético and more throughout the first half, and could have even gone in at the break with a bigger advantage. Aduriz got in behind the visiting backline with time to compose himself, but he dawdled on the ball too long and allowed Siqueira to get back in and cover his wailing teammates. The concern remained for Diego Simeone however, who had some work to do during the break if his team were to get anything out of the game.

Unfortunately for the home side, that’s exactly what he did. And Atlético’s second half showing proved it. They were back on terms less than a minute into the second half, thanks to Antoine Griezmann who got his head on the end of an immaculate Juanfran cross from the right. Less than ten minutes later, Simeone’s team then moved ahead, albeit fortuitously. Tiago was deemed to have been tripped by San José in the box, although replays confirmed that contact was minimal. Nevertheless, Raúl García stepped up to convert from the spot without a care in the world.

Then, with Athletic committing men forward in search of a goal to get back on level terms, Atlético punished them with a third. Griezmann snuck in through the back door to finish confidently past Iraizoz, and pile the misery on Athletic even more, given his connections to their famous rivals Real Sociedad. He wasn’t done yet though, and completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute, tapping in to make it 4-1 to his team. Griezmann initially tried to square it to Raúl García but the ball eventually ricocheted back into his path to complete his three-goal haul.

Re: Jornada 16 primera division

Javi Gracia’s Málaga came from behind at the to ensure they finish the year on a high at Elche this evening, largely thanks to the inspired substitution of Luis Alberto who proved to be the match winner at the Martínez Valero.

It wasn’t tough to see why Fran Escribá’s Elche side were bottom of the league heading into the game early on. A defence struggling for confidence and organisation was exposed on a number of occasions in the first ten minutes, but fortunately for them, Málaga were uncharacteristically wasteful.

Of the best of those early chances, Duda should really have done better after receiving a complete Christmas gift from Elche’s Enzo Roco. The Chilean defender tried to take Duda on, in a precarious position on the edge of his box, and it almost left him extremely red-faced. Having the ball stolen off him, Duda went through on goal against Tyton but his shot was straight at the Polish stopper.

All of the first half’s best chances went to the visitors, but it was eventually Elche who edged ahead in fortuitous circumstances. A free-kick from Edu Albácar was nodded in by Lombán to open the scoring with almost the last kick of the first half, but replays showed that he and a host of other Elche players were offside in doing so. Inevitably, referee Undiano Mallenco didn’t leave the pitch at half time without a few words in his ear from Málaga players and staff.

Their frustrations were soon taken out on the scoreboard though, as Camacho drew his team level less than five minutes after the restart, converting a Castillejo cross at the front post ahead of Lombán. With the momentum now in Málaga’s favour, they immediately went in search of a second and all three points. They weren’t found without a little bit of work though, and it took an inspired substitution from Javi Gracia to seal them.

He brought on Luis Alberto in the 77th minute in place of Sergi Darder, and his impact was about as immediate as his manager could have ever imagined. Picking up the ball around 30 yards from goal within seconds of his entry, he took on two Elche players before slotting into the bottom corner with seeming ease.

That proved to be enough for Javi Gracia’s side, who move back into a European qualification spot to end what has been a fantastic back end to 2014. For Elche, they remain rock bottom, with an increasingly grim situation.

Re: Jornada 16 primera division

After taking the lead through Jhon Córdoba in the first half, Granada were denied a first league win since September by a 78th minute Emiliano Velázquez equaliser for Getafe.

Much of the first half was a balanced affair between Granada and Getafe, with both making a cautious start to the encounter and few clear chances on goal. After several tentative attacks by the home side broke down, it was the visitors who had the first clear chance of the game and from almost nothing in the 25th minute, as Álvaro gathered a long punt forward, controlled well and headed into the area, but drove his finish across goal and beyond the far post. Granada responded in kind moments later, as the ball broke free for Fran Rico just inside the area, but he too was wide of the mark.

Beyond the half hour mark, more opportunities for Granada as Jhon Córdoba went through, one on one with the keeper, but that duel was won by Getafe keeper Guaita, who made the block in the 32nd minute. The clearance reached Foulquier and he went for an audacious lob, but it dipped just beyond the frame of the goal.

The game was eventually opened up in the 40th minute with a goal from Granada. Almost like head-tennis inside the Getafe area and their defenders unable to react, first with Fran Rico heading the ball into the danger area, El Arabi making a flick-on beyond Guaita and Jhon Córdoba with the finish. El Arabi had a great chance to double the lead just before the interval, but spun his shot just wide.

Nyom was an injury casualty and didn’t return for the second half, replaced by Márquez and Granada continued to look for a second goal as play resumed. Iturra driving forward to the edge of the area, slipping the ball to Piti for him to strike with venom, but a fraction over the crossbar. Getafe made their first change with Sammir on for Juan Rodríguez, but in the 60th minute, had to make a forced second. Lafita had gone down clutching at his knee in agony, the stretcher required to carry him from the field and after several moments pause, Diego Castro on in his place.

More changes as Granada sent on Riki for El Arabi, then Getafe made their final more, with Pedro León replacing Yoda. Then in the 72nd minute, the visitors were almost back on level terms, but a superb fingertip save from Oier denied and equally good chance, Naldo striking after a corner from Pedro León. Another corner and Naldo did have the ball in the back of the net this time, but that was ruled out, much to the frustration of the visiting players.

Getafe weren’t to be denied though, as they kept up the pressure and earned another set-piece. Pedro León once more on the edge of the Granada area and after getting the ball into the area, confusion amongst the home defenders and Velázquez was there to prod out a leg to make the 78th minute finish.

Granada made their final change in the 80th minute, with Piti replaced by Success and the young Nigerian latched onto a great opening two minutes later. Bursting down the right and reaching the corner of the area, he made a slide-rule pass into the area that Jhon Córdoba was millimetres away from connecting with.

Towards the end Pedro León was again the key figure for Getafe, coming close on two occasions, first with a second bite at a free-kick and then another chance from the edge of the area, but both over the crossbar. In the end, the two sides had to settle for a point apiece.

Re: Jornada 16 primera division

After keeping the game in relatively close quarters for over an hour at El Madrigal, Deportivo La Coruña succumbed to a late Villarreal onslaught to go down 3-0 at the hands of Marcelino’s in-form side.

Víctor Fernández will have been looking for a compact defensive performance from his team ahead of kick-off, in an attempt to frustrate high-flying Villarreal for as long as possible. That’s not what he got early on though, as his team went behind in the first ten minutes after being carved open down the left hand side.

A strike from Cheryshev on the left was parried by Fabricio straight into the path of the approaching Jonathan Dos Santos, who appreciatively fired home first time. He might have been feeling a tiny bit happier by half time considering that was the only goal they allowed, largely thanks to his goalkeeper Fabricio, but their situation at the other end probably negated that. Deportivo didn’t muster one attempt on goal in the first half, while Villarreal managed five on target. That would have to change in the second half if the visitors were to guarantee that they don’t end 2014 in the relegation zone.

Unfortunately for Fernández’s team, the only thing that changed was the potency of Villarreal’s attacking core. After finally showing a couple of signs that they may be about to work their way into the game in an attacking sense, the hosts turned on the style just moments after.

Luciano Vietto had had a relatively quiet game by his usual standards, but he exploded into life in the 68th minute to put his team 2-0 up. A pinpoint cross from Víctor Ruíz left Vietto with nothing more than a tap-in, although there was another shortly on the way. Just minutes later, in an almost identical move, Cheryshev picked him out this time for a second close range finish before Deportivo could even collect their thoughts.

The game’s lasting action game through a straight red card that was awarded to Villarreal substitute Tomas Pina. The midfielder was adjudged to have led with his studs in a tackle on Bergañtinos, and was given his marching orders by González González without hesitation. His early exit had no impact on the game though, as the home side closed out the 3-0 victory with relative ease.