Tennis Star Slams Uefa
Tennis world number-one Rafa Nadal has hit out at Uefa for banning Real Mallorca from participating in European football this coming season.
Nadal, who was born on Mallorca and is a shareholder of the club, is upset that Uefa have been so heavy handed towards the club.
Mallorca are in administration, and Uefa has claimed that they do not meet the admission criteria for European competition. But the governing body declined to give any clearer reasons for their decision, which Mallorca have appealed.
Mallorca managed to punch above their weight to finish fifth in La Liga last season in spite of their perilous financial situation, thereby qualifying for the Europa League.
"I am like all Mallorca fans," Nadal told IB3 TV.
"It's a hell of a blow because playing in Europe fills you with excitement and the players have earned it.
"I don't know the reasons behind the exclusion but if it is for economic reasons there would not be any European competition at all because everyone is in the same situation."
Nadal became a shareholder of the club this month, and his uncle- former professional player Miguel Angel Nadal, is assistant to new coach Michael Laudrup.
The club posted a statement on their website decrying the double standards exposed by Uefa's treatment of them.
They pointed out that Barcelona had admitted earlier on Tuesday to making a loss of almost 80 million euros last season and their gross debt was more than half a billion euros.
