THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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 told a packed 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.
"I assume the presidency of the club as an exercise of responsibility and I could not reject the position because a club like Madrid cannot continue with such an absence until the elections," said the 53-year-old Boluda, a shipping magnate. "I will defend the interests of this club with all of my heart."
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 real ones. 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 media. Calderon has fired two of his close aides in the wake of the allegations.
"I want to repeat now, in this moment, that I solemnly swear against these false claims that I have read and heard in different media outlets about my participation or knowledge, direct or indirect, of what happened at the last assembly," Calderon said.
Calderon blasted the media 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."
Calderon has been dogged by scandal ever since he won the 2006 election by 200 votes over Juan Palacios — only because mailed-in ballots were not tallied.
Calderon won largely on the back of his failed promise to bring superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Cesc Fabregas to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Though Calderon’s second year in office was marked by a second straight Spanish league title — Madrid’s record 31st — and a profit of 51 million euros (C$85 million), a series of ill-timed public outbursts and a dip in the club’s performances left him on the defensive throughout.
"The accounts of the club are the greatest in their history, both in earnings and revenue," Calderon said.
Calderon, who has been a club member for 30 years, approved the firing of coaches Fabio Capello and Bernd Schuster, despite both leading the club to league titles.
Calderon has also been criticized for buying foreign players rather than promoting youth-team players, with nearly 300 million euros (C$497 million) spent on foreign imports since he took office.
The latest bungling was the signing of striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and midfielder Lassana Diarra. They were mainly brought in to reinforce the squad for the Champions League as the Spanish champion is trailing runaway league leader Barcelona by 12 points. But Madrid can field only one of the two players in Europe due to UEFA regulations.
It remained unclear whether sport director Pedja Mijatovic, who arrived with Calderon, would remain in his post.
Madrid’s basketball club also won two trophies during Calderon’s tenure.