Spanish national police arrested Spanish second division side Cádiz CEO Quique Pina for "presumed Inland Revenue fraud and money laundering in offshore territories," according to Javi Quiñones Miralles of AS. The police operation "has been dubbed Operación Líbero." Offices linked with Pina, the former president of Spanish second division side Granada, "in a range of Spanish cities such as Cádiz, Granada, Murcia and Barcelona were all also searched" for evidence against the 49-year-old. Pina's longtime associate and sister Elena Pina -- also a Cádiz employee -- was also under investigation as the club's offices "were taken over by officers investigating the case." There was a "similar scene at Granada's Estadio de Los Cármenes," where Pina was club president from '09-16. Cádiz Legal Head Martín José García Marichal said, "All we can do is collaborate with the police investigation which has been initiated from Madrid. It's important to clarify that Cádiz CF is not under investigation but one of the club's employees, which makes this an uncomfortable situation. I'm hopeful that this is a matter than can be resolved as soon as possible" (AS, 1/31). FOOTBALL ESPANA reported the arrest of Pina "has been linked" to Serie A side Udinese Owner Giampaolo Pozzo. Pozzo, whose son Gino owns EPL club Watford, "has been linked by Spanish authorities to the arrest of the high-profile Pina" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 2/1).
