Crisis in Asturian rugby. Alberto Pérez will not continue to lead the Rugby Federation of the Principality of Asturias (FRPA) after resigning from a position that he held for eight years. “Our federation is immersed in a management model debate as has been seen in the last two assemblies, where the budgets for the 2023/24 season have been rejected. The rejection occurs mainly due to the cost of federation management personnel” Pérez explained in a letter.
The crux of the matter is the disparity in criteria between the federations and the majority of the clubs regarding the management model of Asturian rugby. “Before there were many volunteers and fewer activities and now it is the other way around, there is a lot of activity and fewer people with the capacity to help due to the increase in tasks related to the clubs. There is debate between a volunteer model that is no longer viable and another that involves have personnel to cover the administrative tasks, sports management and grassroots rugby, and that forces spending on personnel to increase,” explains Pérez in conversation with LA NUEVA ESPAÑA.
To cover this increase in the budget item, the FRPA proposed raising the cost that each club must face monthly per federated player from 2.3 euros to 4.1. The Federation alleges that it is a cost “adjusted in our circumstances, less than 50 euros per season.” What is the biggest obstacle to reaching an agreement? The survival of the regional teams of the different categories, “non-negotiable” for Pérez and an object of discussion for the clubs, who consider that it eats up an excessive part of the federation spending that should be allocated to other issues (20 euros on average of the fee annual of each federation are dedicated to defraying these combinations). “One of the maxims of our board – alleges Pérez – is to compete in national teams. The players and their parents want there to be national teams, and among the clubs themselves there is no consensus on the matter.”
What happens if the Federation fails to approve budgets for this 2023/24 financial year? This is an unprecedented situation. The FRPA, for the moment, continues to operate with an extension of the previous season’s budgets, a casuistry, the former president explains, “unsustainable”: “A Federation cannot continue to operate with last year’s budgets.” However, Pérez is optimistic and confident that the issue will be resolved “soon.” “I trust that there will be an agreement. Maybe what was needed is for a new board to come in,” he says, and confesses that he perceived a “lack of trust” in the project he was leading.
After two terms at the head of Asturian rugby, and a career in the Federation that began 24 years ago, in 1999, Pérez says he feels satisfied with the work done. “We have pushed to take a step forward, we have made a lot of progress: there is much more activity, collaborations with other federations, we have more grassroots rugby… I am proud, we have raised the level of our rugby, thanks, in large part, to the collaboration of the clubs”, ditch.
Eduardo Palacio, president of Gijón Rugby, admits, in conversation with LA NUEVA ESPAÑA, the divergence of positions between the clubs and the FRPA. “There were two assemblies in which the Federation presented two budgets in which the clubs did not agree, the amount proposed was very high. The Federation had another idea, more focused on national teams, and we did not agree. They told them “We asked you to reduce expenses on personnel or selections and they did not accept.”
Likewise, Palacio wanted to show his gratitude for the work carried out by Pérez during his eight years at the head of Asturian rugby. “I totally respect his decision to resign. We thank him for all the years that he has been at the head of the Federation.”
2023-12-02 03:01:01
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