Basketball Federation Seeks €133,100 from City Council Over Pre-Olympic Tournament Expenses
The Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) is pursuing a claim for €133,100 against the City Council, stemming from expenses incurred during a pre-Olympic women’s basketball tournament held in July of last year. The federation’s communications manager, Víctor Charneco, indicated that the FEB is taking a measured approach to the situation, stating, “there is little that this private non-profit sports entity can do.” He added that the federation is aware the City Council is working to resolve the matter and that the FEB has “no interest in entering into this issue either.”
Charneco confirmed that the claim for patrimonial liability was filed by the FEB’s legal counsel as the appropriate step to address this administrative issue, which is understood to be in the process of resolution. While the federation has not elaborated on the specifics of the claim’s content,the municipal Socialist Group has characterized it as indicative of “serious negligence” by the city governance.
According to a statement attributed to the PSOE spokesperson, Clara Martín, the claim document asserts that the financial damages to the Federation originated from “a negligent and defective performance of the municipal services, which failed to comply with administrative rules and principles of contractual good faith, generating an unjust enrichment of the City Council.” The statement further alleges that this action was “actively promoted by the municipal administration, at least with its knowledge and tolerance,” labeling it as “gross negligence.”
The FEB has remained silent on whether it has previously advanced payments for similar tournament expenses without a formal contract or agreement in place.
city Councilor Responds to Allegations
In response, the Sports Councilor, Jesús Garrido, has accused the socialist spokesperson of breaching her “duty of secrecy” regarding ongoing City Council files. Garrido stated that the spokesperson has been reprimanded for this breach for the third time during the current municipal term, describing the situation as “very serious.” He warned that “if we have any inconvenience regarding the increase in quantities, of course we are going to demand civil and economic duty.”
Garrido also noted that an information commission requested by all opposition groups, except for VOX, will proceed at the initiative of the PSOE. Esther Núñez, spokesperson for VOX, explained that her party has not joined the commission as “mrs. Martín does not set the times for us.”
The PP councilor emphasized that the relationship with the Spanish basketball Federation is “excellent” and that federation officials have been kept informed about the delays, which are attributed to disagreements among municipal technicians.Garrido highlighted the FEB’s track record, stating, “We have worked with more than 20 different federations and we have not had a problem with any. they all have their contracts and are in order and in this case – for the FEB – it is not that it is not, it is that it is an open file.”
Garrido acknowledged a key lesson learned from the situation: “if we cannot hold an event in time, we are not going to do it.” he revealed that this year, the city has rejected “many attractive contracts” due to the inability to secure events promptly, having had over 60 proposals to choose from.
