Real Madrid "called presidential elections for this summer, although no vote is likely to take place" given the "lack of potential challengers" to long-standing incumbent Florentino Pérez, according to Dermot Corrigan of ESPN.com. Pérez, 70, has been president of Real Madrid for a total of 14 years over two terms in office. His position "currently looks stronger than ever" following Manager Zinedine Zidane's side's recent capturing of the club's first La Liga and European Cup double since '58. Incremental changes to the club's statutes made since Pérez returned to the job in '09 also mean that "all would-be candidates for the role" must have been Real socios (members) for at least 20 years and have a personal guarantee of over €75M ($84M) from a Spanish bank. Such "strictures" helped Pérez to be re-elected unopposed in '13, and have been "legally challenged by socios groups," although last January a low-level court ruled in favor of the current regime's "right to set the rules." With the current board's term officially ending this summer, the club has "moved ahead as mandated" and opened a nine-day window -- from Friday-June 18 -- during which candidates can come forward (ESPN.com, 6/8).
CAUSE FOR CONCERN: The EFE reported Real Madrid Dir General José Angel Sánchez said that the government "should study taxes in football to favor the industry." He also expressed concern with "the big economic difference between the EPL and La Liga." Sánchez: "We do not have many industries in Spain in a leadership position like that of football. ... We all have to do something and the government can. For example, how is it possible that the only professionals in Spain to which the Beckham Law does not apply are the footballers?" (EFE, 6/8).
