“The FCF is kidnapped by a board of directors with interests”

Javier Salamero (Zaragoza, 1971) was sports director of Girona, his coach and also of Sabadell in Second A at the beginning of the previous decade. Person linked to the world of football since his time as a player, in which he has toured all the fields of Catalonia, now heads a movement to help Catalan clubs and protest against what he considers a lack of sensitivity and empathy of the Catalan Federation of Soccer (FCF). Explain in AS your reasons.

Why was the Association of Amateur Soccer Clubs of Catalonia born?

Due to the needs of the clubs and so that they can defend their interests. We are committed to solving your demands. On the other hand, it is a legal entity. I want to remember that it is represented by individuals and by clubs.

How many clubs does it gather?

Right now in our bylaws there are 25 members of the board of directors who belong to different clubs. They are the ones that give visibility to the project, but there are other associated clubs that we keep anonymous, although we are having a pleasant reception by the clubs in Catalonia.

Give an example of helping clubs?

We offer them legal advice or that at a given moment at a commercial level we can get sponsors, or even get the maximum possible subsidies. Not all clubs have a structure to manage grants in a timely manner. We will try to give that coverage.

If you provide coverage, is it because you understand that the Catalan Football Federation does not?

To this day, the FCF is hijacked by its board of directors. The clubs are at the service of the FCF and not the other way around. The FCF must provide this service. Obviously this stems from the lack of sensitivity and empathy of an organism that only looks after their interests. This board has specific personal and lucrative interests, so we created this association so that the clubs have a space.

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Do you think that lack of empathy has been accentuated by the pandemic?

There have always been concerns from the clubs and a certain suspicion, but currently it has been accentuated a lot taking into account the proven facts that are coming to light. There is irregular praxis. It is not normal for the director general of the FCF to be charged with misappropriation of the FCF itself. It is normal for us that there are false invoices in the name of his wife. It is not normal for commissions of 300 euros to be paid to each board member for participating in meetings. Services are contracted in violation of the sports law. People are hired who are relatives, brothers, children or sons-in-law of people on the board of directors. It is not normal for funds to be diverted from the foundation to give grants to the campus of the president's son-in-law … There are allowances that do not exist. Enough has happened. This time we have the opportunity in the next assembly to modify the management. We only ask that the people who run the entity be honest.

How has the pandemic affected clubs and what has the FCF done to help them?

There have been many territorial football clubs that have disappeared due to the precarious economic situation. The clubs are experiencing many financial difficulties. And that must be paid by the boards of directors and their players. I think that the FCF at this time of difficulty has not had empathy because they have two pandemic courses competing for half and paying the same. We want an item on the agenda to be included in the assembly in which the 2021-22 season will have absolute gratuity to register their teams. Clubs subsist on the goodwill of their leaders. They are having a lot of trouble getting through their daily activities. The Primera Catalana clubs tried to speak and were not listened to: they reached a consensus to compete with guarantees, but the FCF ignored them. There was a lack of sensitivity, because everything must be paid for.

And what will they ask for in that assembly?

It is projected for the end of June, and it is sure to be scheduled for a weekday a long way from most clubs. We want to present enough signatures to change the agenda. We will ask for the presence of a notary, that the vote be secret and that the equipment fees are free. That the federated portal has a 50% discount. That the general manager's contract be canceled, that no manager can collect remuneration and that the president's salary ceases to be 120,000 euros net per year.

You trained in Second A in Girona or Sabadell, why are you embarking on this adventure now?

Before being a coach and sports director, I trained in all categories of grassroots football and territorial football, Second B, Third, Regional … For many years I have been president of a school sports entity, the Esportiu Catalunya Soccer Club, and I am vice president from L'Associació Blanc i Blava de Lloret de Mar. I have gone through different roles. I have really participated in the management of modest football and I have a special sensitivity for it. Now the thing is that this can bring together many clubs so that they can be heard. It is a debt I have with football.

Is this the embryo of a future candidacy?

This association has a great characteristic, and that is that it is independent of any candidacy. Possible elections are far away for us, what is urgent is the next assembly. It will be seen in the future. I want to remember that each club has the freedom to vote it wants. We want to work for the good of Catalan football. In our board of directors there are clubs from the four provinces.