NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 12:05
Málaga fans welcome a random traveler at the airport as a new purchase
Ruud van Nistelrooij, Joris Mathijsen, Isco and Santi Carzola. These are just a few names of top football players who settled at Málaga CF twelve years ago. In the city in southern Spain, a quarter-final in the Champions League was even completed.
Málaga now plays its matches against Antequera CF, Merida and Intercity CF at the third Spanish level. To the frustration of the fans, the club decided not to buy any players this summer due to the financial problems.
Random travellers
To express their displeasure, a group of fans came up with a fun action. Dozens of supporters of the club flocked to the airport and welcomed random travelers with top club purchases, including shirts, scarves and flags. Unsuspecting travelers were serenaded, given bodyguards and asked for autographs.
Some visibly enjoyed it and even held a ball in the air, much to the delight of the fans.
ANPRuud van Nistelrooij in the shirt of Málaga
In the hometown of Pablo Picasso, art has not been seen on the field in the often well-filled Estadio La Rosaleda for years. Sheikh Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani is the bitten dog.
The Qatari became the owner of the club in 2010. Like any other owner, he had the dream to turn his toy into a stable top club.
Advance
With a capital injection from the sheikh, Málaga initially made an advance in the Spanish league, culminating in fourth place in 2012, and qualifying for the Champions League. There was a week of partying in the city and trainer Manuel Pellegrini even got a roundabout named after him.
In the billion dollar ball, Málaga stole the hearts of the football supporters and reached the quarter finals. It came against Borussia Dortmund to a dramatic elimination by two German hits in injury time.
ProshotsFans of Málaga (in better times) at the Estadio La Rosaleda
Behind the scenes, the club had already collapsed (administratively) like a house of cards at that time. Due to financial mismanagement, a suspension by the European football association UEFA followed and Sheikh Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani turned off the money tap. Salaries were no longer paid, top football players left and a free fall was imminent.
At first it seemed to go well. Despite the financial malaise, Málaga remained a stable mid-engine in the first years after the great success. But in 2018 the curtain fell: relegation was no longer preventable.
Last season, after a number of lean years, the club also finished below the line in the Segunda División, so that the third level is now waiting. For some fans, that’s too much of a good thing. With this playful protest, they hope to wake up the sheik again.
2023-08-22 10:05:55
#Angry #fans #Malaga #travelers #airport #purchase
