Tension mounts as Opinions clash after the dreaded briefcase phenomenon continues to dominate the closing season of La liga


Series of reactions and counter reactions from all quarters have trailed the recent black bag phenomenon stirred up by Real Madrid in its bid to win the Spanish League title.


One of the earliest reactions came from Madrid's two closest rivals in the La Liga chase, Barcelona FC and Sevilla, who were vehemently opposed to the idea of Real paying out cash to teams to secure results it deems advantageous to its title chase.


Expectedly, one of the earliest counter reactions has come from Real's Chief, Ramón Calderón who is convinced there is nothing wrong with paying one team to beat another team.
His conviction has been heightened by last week's result in Madrid where Barcelona defeated Atletico 6-0. He says:

We didn't even consider handing out a bonus to Atletico because we didn't feel it was necessary.

With a sharp return in form by Barcelona, Calderon has made an equally sharp turn around on his cash donation preferences. His latest words:

I see nothing wrong in bonus handouts as long as this is handed in return for a win and not a defeat. I see no problem with this.

Ramon Calderon has thus given his unbending thumbs-up for cash handouts and bonus incentives paid to teams in same competition.


Barcelona team officials have contrary views on this.
Speaking on the issue, Ferran Soriano, Barcelona's Vice -President for Accounting, has indicated that the Catalans will not be paying any of Real Madrid's opponents cash bonus or any form of incentives to influence performance. It was an absolute no from him.


Barca's Kid wonder, Lionel Messi also shares his Vice-President's views. He explained:

I see no need for offering incentives to Madrid's next three opponents. They don't need extra encouragement as they are already paid well. Where reputations are at stake, people will play more to win and this is most important. We need to do what we can do and see how things happen at the end of the show.

Former Barca B player and presently Deportivo La Coruna's Midfielder, Juan Verdu starts on a similar opinion path with Messi but veers off along the way with a deferring conclusion. He stated his own understanding of the concept in a radio interview:

We shall do everything that we can to win against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. We are a good team and there is no need for bonuses to guarantee that much. However, I’m in favour of anything that encourages you to win and that is legal. My phone is on in case I get a call from Barcelona.

Other players of concerned clubs have also given their reactions to the brewing storm.
Deportivo La Coruna will play Real Madid this weekend and a player to watch out for is Depor's skillful player, Rikki. While preparing for the weekend clash, amidst rumours of Madrid's generousity spreading wider and wider, he says:

In football, it will be funny to deny these things happen. A motivation to performance is always welcome. If you are striving to achieve your best and someone wants to motivate you to do that by offering you an incentive, then that is very welcome.
I for one have not received any calls from Barcelona and I remain a professional and will always display this. All this is fine with me. Playing against Madrid at the Bernabeu will be challenging as they are a fine team and playing well at the moment, and also a physical side. However, we shall play our usual game and not be concerned with all this or who we are playing against and what is at stake for them and all that. We shall play to win and I shall strive to do perform. If I score, then better for me.

Getafe play Barcelona over the weekend and their players may not be too strict on refusing incentives. They seem to collectively agree that so long as the payment to win is legal, then they are open to such incentives and will receive such without bating an eye-lid. Full-back Javier Paredes adds:

So long as a player is not paid to lose, then it is perfectly ok. As professional, we have the natural competitiveness inrunning through our blood veins, no matter what little is at stake. Playing to lose should not be encouraged, but incentives to win are welcome.

Team mate Mario Cotelo adds a humourous angle to it, saying that:

Maletins are like Bin Laden. We all know that it is in existence but no one knows where in particular.

Maletin is a local word used to describe cash payment offered in return for a win. The word, translated directly to English, means small case or briefcase.This is used to summarize the concept of desperate clubs paying closed-door and under-the-table cash and other incentives to other clubs to influence positive performance in the desperados' favour, although negative performances have sometimes been paid for and it is hard to tell to what directions a certain cash incentive may go toward affecting the positive or negative outcome of a match or a chain of matches. The multiplier effect is a thing yet to be determined in realistic terms. Only the events on the football pitch in the next few weeks will determine where the Spanish League trophy goes.