Malaga CF Survive Bribery Scare

Allegations that Malaga CF 'bought' two games last season to win promotion, have been investigated by the Competition Committee following a complaint from a FIFA official who accused the club of 'buying two games' to ensure promotion to La Liga division one.

The investigation followed complaints from fourth placed Real Sociedad, who would have taken Malaga's place in the top league. They had claimed that Malaga 'bought' the victory against Sevilla Atletico during the final games of the season.

Malaga were in the top two of the second division for most of the season, but a bad run of form saw their points cushion disappear as they were overtaken and dropped to third. They eventually finished second on equal points with Sporting.

Real Sociedad finished the campaign in fourth place, four points behind.

The Competition Committee has fortunately kicked out the claims and Malaga will play in the Primera Division next season.

Beckham Would Love To Return To Madrid

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star David Beckham has revealed to Spanish newspaper Marca that he would love to return to Real Madrid in some capacity when he hangs up his boots.

Beckham who still has his property in Madrid, admits that he misses the food, light, colour and fun of Madrid and says he will always be a Real supporter wherever he goes.

He would like to return to be a member of staff with the club that he calls the best in the world.

Now what would Sir Alex say to that?!

The Virgen Del Carmen

Yesterday July 16th was the day of the Virgen Del Carmen, in Spain.
This day is celebrated around Spain but specifically in the coastal areas as the Virgen Del Carmen, also known as the Stella Maris, is the star of the sea.

She is the patron of fishermen and also of the Spanish navy and stories are told about superstitious sailors in history, refusing to go to sea until it had been blessed by the Virgen.

For years Spaniards have followed the tradition of carrying the local statue of Carmen in a procession through the streets of town or village, ending at the sea. Here the Virgen is launched out to sea on a boat decked with flowers.

A celebration in Spain is not worth noting if it does not have some kind of pyrotechnics involved and the Virgen is put to sea amid a backdrop of fireworks.

Marine Recovery Centre Releases Turtles Back To Sea

Three Loggerhead turtles have been released at Malaga port, after being rescued and having recovered at the Marine Species Recovery Centre (CREMA).

One of the turtles was found off the coast of Almunecar and another in the Strait of Gibraltar last year where they both had trouble getting under water.
The third was found off Marbella last year suffering from hypothermia.

The Councillor for the Environment, Cinto Castilla was present to see the turtles released and also to announce the a new centre for CREMA at the mouth of the River Gudalhorce in Malaga.

The centre is currently treating six other turtles which it hopes to return to their natural habitat soon.

Nadal Injury Forces Withdrawal From Stuttgart

Rafa Nadal who won Wimbledon after overcoming five times winner Roger Federer on Sunday, has been advised by doctors not to take part in the Stuttgart championship.

The Wimbledon final was considered to be the best ever mens singles final at the SW London courts, finishing in an amazing tie break that threatened to go either way until the last ball.

However it has emerged that Nadal was nursing an injury picked up in his quarter final game. He has flown to Germany to offer his withdrawal from the championship personally and now intends to rest.

Nadal has played 63 games so far this year and won 56. He is still some 545 points behind Federer in the World Player rankings, but will lose a further 250 points for not defending his win last year, in Germany.

Spain Proposes To Extend Human Rights To Apes

Spanish Parliament has voiced it's support for giving 'Human Rights' to Great Apes, the first time that any national legislation has been called for such rights for 'non humans'.

Great Apes rights to life and freedom was proposed by scentists and philosophers who say that our closest genetic relatives need protective rights hitherto limited to humans.

Philosophers Peter Singer and Paolo Cavalieri founded the Great Ape project in 1993, arguing that Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Orang Utans and Bonobos should enjoy the right to life, freedom and should not be tortured.

While there are no known cases of Apes being used in experiments or tortured there is currently no law to prevent that from happening, explained Pedro Pozas of The Great Apes Project.

Under the proposals keeping apes for circuses, advertising or film will be forbidden, while the 315 apes in Spanish zoos should expect their conditions to improve.

Spain At Last - Euro 2008

A fantastic two weeks of International football at Euro 2008, came to an end last night when Spain beat Germany 1-o in the final of the competition, to win the Euro trophy.

Spain began the tournament among the favourites, but still carrying the tag of 'under achievers' similar to England , after losing out during the final stages of recent International competitions.

The first group game against Russia was among the best of the competition, with Russia often matching the accurate passing game of Spain, if lacking the flair and quality. Spain's 4-1 victory was non the less well deserved and spelled out a clear message that Spain were taking the tournament very seriously.

Even when Aragones resorted to his second eleven for the last group game, Spain still looked outrageously good, and beat Sweden more comfortably than the 2-1 score suggests.

Holland, Croatia and Portugal also looked impressive during the group stages, the Dutch in particular played some excellent football. But against the odds each of them fell at the quarter finals leaving Spain to beat Russia a second time to progress to the final, and Germany seeing off a spirited Turkish team to join them.

Spain v Germany provided an excellent advert for football, with chances for both teams throughout the game. The quality and wonderful football of Spain deservedly winning the game and the tournament.

This Spanish team is up there with the best I have seen at International level and they still have some very exciting youngsters at under 17 &21 waiting in the wings.