Ramon Calderon Calls It Quits

By: chris | January 16th, 2009

As expected by the Spanish press, Ramon Calderon has stepped down from his post as Real Madrid’s president. The scandal erupted when it was reported by Marca, Real fanzine, that when Real Madrid has their votes – they take place in a giant room and vote by a show of hands, very modern – Ramon has been sneaking in allies with fake credentials in order to swing measures towards his favor.

What is this, Italy?

Ramon isn’t going down without a fight. Oh way, yes he is. In fact, he’s just denying the allegations, resigning and whimpering into his little corner. Real convincing.

“Against the recommendations of my board I have decided to step down from the presidency,” Calderon said.

“I have committed errors but not irregularities. I go with my head held high.”

“I have nothing to hide,” he said. “I firmly deny all the lies that have been published by various media sources in the past few days.

“I never participated in anything illegal or committed any wrongdoing.

Now is this is, or is there more? Could this story be somehow aligned with the week’s other massive soap opera – Kaka to Man City?

One of Calderon’s biggest platforms coming in was his promise to bring a true galactico back to Real Madrid, specifically one of Cesc, Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka. There’s nothing to indicate Project Cesc ever got so much as off the ground and the pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t even land them a virus.

Then there’s Kaka. The most plausible of his potential targets, a player who’d whispered sweet nothings into the ears of Los Blancos fans a couple summers back when he was football’s topic du jour, not merely playing third wheel to Messi & Ronaldo. But now, just 20 months later, it appears Kaka, a player so desperately wanted at one point by The Club of the Century, Real @#$%ing Madrid, is seriously considering moving to a Premiership team which is languishing two points above the relegation zone with a serious case of second sibling syndrome. Feel free to call this promise a complete failure. Three summers, three summers devoid of that giant superstar. In fact, their biggest transfer move under Calderon was a sale. Real Madrid! A sale!

Could this have played a part? Could there be a certain PR angle to this move? Could the Kaka mess be swept under the rug if someday Calderon’s allegations are in fact proven without basis, allowing him as fresh a start as possible? Maybe, maybe not. After all, it wouldn’t exactly be the first time a failed ex-Real president has been afforded a second chance. Just look a Florentino Perez, the man who unwisely ushered in the Galacticos era, and is now a reported candidate for reelection in 2010.

It may just be a coincidence. It may just be that Calderon is guilty and is hurriedly running away with his tail between his legs. But even for a man who claims he “did no wrong”, he’s not putting up much of a fight.