The Spanish Football League (LFP) has demoted Real Murcia from the second division to the third tier -- Segunda B -- and fined the club $240,800 after it "failed to meet the competition’s financial criteria," according to Iain Rogers of REUTERS. A Murcia delegation led by coach José Manuel Aira and accompanied by several hundred noisily protesting fans "failed to prevent the league from ratifying the sanctions on Thursday." The LFP said in a statement that Mirandés, which finished "19th among the 22 second-division sides last season and were relegated, will take Murcia's place" (REUTERS, 8/7). MARCA reported LFP President Javier Tebas "explained in a press conference the reasons for the decision." Tebas added that Racing Santander will also compete in the second division. He said, "The economic control process we have followed makes us believe that there will not be a problem. ... The economic situations have been observed this season and I repeat, Mirandés will not have a problem. ... We would prefer 100 protests before accepting clubs with these economic problems" (MARCA, 8/7).
MIRANDÉS CELEBRATES: Mirandés President Alfredo de Miguel said, "It is a pleasure for the club, the entire Mirandés family and the city. It's important to be in the second division, as demonstrated this year. ... Now we can give this city what it deserves" (EP, 8/7).
MURCIA REACTS: In Madrid, Álvaro Olmedo reported more than 300 Real Murcia fans had gathered outside LFP headquarters when an LFP statement "ended the small hopes of the most optimistic fans." Before "reaching LFP headquarters, the Murcia fans found out on Radio Marca that the LFP committee making the decision would meet at 9:30am." The LFP was "looking to avoid its committee members having to pass in front of Murcia fans." In addition to Manuel Aira, players including Miguel Albiol and Daniel Toribio "accompanied their fans to Madrid, where they tried without success to enter LFP headquarters" to meet with Tebas (MARCA, 8/7).
