Spanish second division side Real Zaragoza directors "recognized on Thursday the risk of liquidation and disappearing is 'true and real' after the Spain's Internal Revenue authorities demanded the club" pay the "historic" €25M ($32M) sum it owes, according to EL CONFIDENCIAL. Real Zaragoza President Christian Lapetra accused Spain's tax authorities of "refusing to negotiate an agreement similar to ones reached with other clubs." Lapetra announced that the club "has asked its legal advisers to prepare the appropriate appeals with measures that would paralyze the payment demands and embargoes that 'unjustly' affect the club." He also "requested a meeting 'at the highest level' with Spanish tax authority officials" and said that the club's situation is an "offense considering other clubs have been granted singular agreements." Such agreements, "which have been granted to clubs like Deportivo de la Coruña, Osasuna, Real Sociedad, Español, Valladolid, Málaga and Betis, allow for delayed payments on debts, in some cases for as many as 50 or 90 years" (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 10/16). Lapetra said, "We want to sign an agreement to be able to pay, but they will not let us. ... We feel mistreated by the tax authorities." Real Zaragoza VP Fernando Sainz de Varanda explained that the situation has nothing to do with what has occurred until now with other football clubs, which can only be attributed to a change of criteria (Real Zaragoza).
