Soccer: Calderon quits as Madrid president

Published 6:17 pm Friday, January 16, 2009

MADRID, Spain — Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon announced his resignation Friday following a vote-rigging scandal.

The 57-year-old lawyer, who was elected in the summer of 2006, stepped down after allegations that he had manipulated a general assembly vote — effectively a vote of confidence — in December. He will be replaced by vice president Vicente Boluda.

“Against the opinion of all of the members of the board I’ve decided to relinquish the presidency of the club,” Calderon said at a news conference. “I committed errors, but never irregularities.”

Boluda becomes Madrid’s 18th president and will be in charge until the next election, which will be held at the end of the season.

Calderon’s turbulent tenure came to an end after sports daily Marca reported Tuesday that his budget was only passed because his directors admitted nonmembers into the assembly and denied entry to about 200 members. The budget was passed by 47 votes at the tense assembly, where some of the 1,215 members called for Calderon’s resignation.

Calderon choked up while reading the six-minute statement, and denied the accusations. He did not take questions from the press. Calderon fired two of his close aides in the wake of the allegations.

Calderon blasted the press for its “vulgarity” and lack of “moral code” and accused it of persecuting him since his election.

“I leave with my hands clean, my conscience clear and a lot less money and worsened health than when I started my mandate,” Calderon said. “I’m very proud to have served the most important football club in the world.”