‘No foul play’ over Real land deal

Date: 10/10/02

By Peter Chapman

COMPETITION Commissioner Mario Monti has given Spanish football giant Real Madrid a clean bill of health over a controversial land deal that could net the indebted club millions of euro.

This follows complaints that the Champions' League victors had effectively been given illegal state aid after winning planning permission for a string of shops, hotels and office blocks in an area around its stadium.

Barcelona-born Liberal MEP Pere Esteve said: 'It is clear that to place a Spanish club in a privileged situation of this kind will affect not only other clubs in Spain but also their counterparts in other member states, since all have to use the same market in goods and services.'

But the Italian competition chief retorted that Real Madrid had no case to answer because no money had changed hands between the club and the local planning authorities.

Competition Commissioner Mario Monti has given Spanish football giant Real Madrid a clean bill of health over a controversial land deal that could net the indebted club millions of euro.