The cleanliness of football is once again in question. Lovers of the authentic taste of this sport have been treated to another rudeness by agents as important as the president of the Spanish Football Federation and one of the Barcelona captains. One more week to believe that all is lost. To convince himself, reluctantly, that it is a toast to the sun to continue seeing in this show the quintessence of entertainment for the people. The money, the business, the interests. Too many lucrative edges to think that one day the time will come when the passion for going to the countryside will blow up, resigning itself to the fact that it is no longer worth it.
The umpteenth fudge in Spanish football has come to light the same week that, miles away, the arguments are piling up to worship the fans. The great heritage of the industry. The reason why professionals must leave the skin. The lessons, not to vary, come from England. Anfield dedicated their You’ll Never Walk Alone to Cristiano Ronaldo and his wife, who have just lost a son. In Germany stamps have also been seen for hope: the Kaiserslautern field to the flag with its historic team in the third category. The German people showed their love for football a week ago, with the exodus of 30,000 fans from Frankfurt to Barcelona to watch the Europa League.
Tonight, Barça will find themselves with as many throats in favor of their opponent, but instead of at home, playing away from home. The atmosphere of Anoeta will be even hotter.
In the eye of the hurricane
La Real receives Barcelona tonight (9:30 p.m., Movistar LaLiga) without being able to isolate itself as much as it wanted from the conflict that Piqué and Rubiales have mounted. Beyond the fact that nothing that happened should affect the development of the match, it is easy to deduce that each intervention of the referee will be measured under suspicion. Del Cerro Grande, appointed by the Rubiales Federation, will arbitrate watched by the eye of the hurricane.
La Real will stand up to Barça with its usual values: unconditional dedication to the shield by the players and unanimous support from the public. An exemplary Anoeta, more English or German than other stadiums in the League, has nothing to do with the discouraging airs that run through football of volatile millions.
A gala atmosphere is expected. On Good Friday, 30,000 came to the stadium, with a crowd of members on vacation. Real Madrid fans have wanted all their lives to see his team rub shoulders with powers like Barça. The incentive multiplies with the raging news. Winning means getting within two points of the Blaugrana, climbing to fifth position and maintaining the lead of two wins with seventh. And on top of that, without a mandatory mask: Anoeta breathes pure football.