He Athletic and the Barcelona They are, again, faced. The circumstance could be understood as 'normal': the Blaugrana club intends the signing of one of the great stars of the rojiblanco and this is reluctant. But it also influences the fact that relationships between both clubs have been somewhat somewhat Rawing. Without great clashes or alharacas, but with a background manifested in facts such as repeated whistles to Andrés Iniesta In San Mamés or the Strawberry to the hallway with which last league game Athletic paid tribute to Barça and champion.
A time before the Basque fans was especially belligerent before the BARÇA-BREEN and the low institutional response (with lDrink of 'tickets'allusive during the following Athletic-Barça). Perhaps an answer from the Culé club was to speak openly since then the signing of Williams without stopping lying in the contract in force of the player with Athletic …
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Both Athletic and Barça are historical clubs of Spanish football. In the past their relationships were correct And the signings, not so torments (in old San Mamés it was known as the Garay tribune which was built with the amount of the transfer of the defense of Barça in 1960. In the mid -70s both clubs collaborated implicitly and explicitly in Use football as a speaker of 'historical nationalities' of the Spanish State. But the September 24, 1983 Everything jumped through the air.
On that date the debate on the hardnessexcessive or not, depending on or received, from Spanish football. And with two specific names: Andoni Goikoetxea and Diego Maradona. Also in a scenario and in certain circumstances: a match of the fourth league day at the Camp Nou among the 1983 Cup champion, Barcelona, and the 1982-83 League, Athletic trained by Javier Clemente. And with Barcelona, of course, Maradona. And relationships were broken.
Maradona was culé since the previous season, 82-83. The Barca club I wanted to make the leap towards the top of world football hiring the one that for many was on their way to being best player in the world And, for others, it was already. He had tried in 1980 and could not achieve it for him veto of the Argentine dictatorial government for the player to leave the country. He could achieve it two years later, after a World Cup in Spain in which Diego did not disappoint as much as the local team. It had to become financial engineering, there were even parliamentary interpellations for the money moved, but Diego arrived in the fall of 1982 and with the added satisfaction that Real Madrid had not even been competition.
But Diego's first Barca season was not as triumphant as he was expected despite the fact that he had Bernd next to him Schusteranother out of series that was expected to be its perfect complement. Although, as a sample of the club's center of gravity, the coach went from being the German Udo Lattek TO ARGENTINE CÉSAR LUIS Menottiwho found delicious excuses to justify that will train in the afternoon without the need to quote that neither Diego liked get up early. But Diego a hepatitis -Oficially- lE had several months in the dry dock. At least the Copa And then existing League Cup.
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But the following year the fluff was already in full condition to start the League and the illusion It was maximum. Until that infamous September 24 arrives the Athletic. The meeting is tense Because there are also some pending account among the players of both teams even if the clubs maintain good relationships. For example in the 1980-81 season, in San Mamés, Andoni Goikoetxea had entered strongly to Schuster and had dropped him several months.
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In the 59th minute of the Barcelona party won 2-0 but some rifirrafe had. Upperfor example, had already fallen in the Barca area and Schuster He had entered somewhat fry. In that fateful minute, with the hot game, Maradona receives a ball from backs to Athletic's goal but very far of the area and Upper enters in a spectacular way, for behindat the height of ankle. The Camp Nou, That he had pulled Schuster before when he entered Goiko, was silent. Maradona tried to get up but could not, was removed on a stretcher and with very bad omen about her status.
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When the game ended Menotti He declared that “maybe someone has to die in football to change.” ClementeAthletic coach, declared his players proud and asked the press if they had seen The Entrada de Schuster A top Shortly before. “I am not a supporter of violence, how am I going to be I was withdrawn my violence !! He has touched Maradona when he could touch some of my players. “The initial medical part prayed, the same night of the incident, that Maradona suffered “Fracture of the peroneal malleolus of the left ankle, with deviation. Drunken of the internal lateral ligament with tear. The operation is essential, which is expected four months.
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The one that the referee Jiménez Madrid Just take Goiko card yellow further frightened the spirits although there was “luck”: when a few years before the Atlético de Madrid player Fragrance suffered a double fracture of warm and fibula that in practice he ended his career he did not even whistle lack. Before the meeting there had been twin of both teams. Then, conato of assault of Athletic hotel fans, stone to its coach at the exit of the field and march to the airport with listen police officer.
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The 'case' immediately began. Goiko's entrance was described as “crime“Practically throughout Europe (remember that the victim was Diego Maradona with all that it behaved) except in the the Basque Country where, at least, it was recognized that it had been hard and unnecessary. But his player's defense was taken with two arguments: one, that there had not been intention to injure. Two – as always, and as always rightly – that other similar actions They had not been sanctioned Hardly. José Luis Núñez, president of Barcelona, said what in his opinion would be a fair decision: that Goiko I didn't play again as long as Diego did not do it. The Basque President, Beti Duñabeitia, replied that then what would be to do with the Barcelona Migueliwho also seriously injured the Madrid player Bonet In the Cup final.
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According to the regulation to Goiko they could fall until 25 Parties and the president of the Competition Committee, Antonio Martínez Lafuente, declared that it didn't seem an entry either so hard. Goiko, although affected, pointed out that it would be unfair to be sanctioned because he had had no intention to injure. He appeared on his own initiative before the Competition Committee, declaring between tears. Athletic made public a note in which in addition to innocence protests hint -it was fashion, and still still is – Attacks to the character of an entire people already its representative institutions …
The sanction was 18 Parties. Curiously, it was made public five minutes after the president of the Spanish Federation, Pablo Portawill abandon San Mamés where he attended a European Cup match. Even so, he rebuked him firm. The committee understood that there was no intentionality but Goiko was equally responsible for the injury.
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This lack of intentionality was used by a argument by a group of Bilbao jurists to qualify the sanction of unconstitutionalsince an innocent was sanctioned. The AFE also came out in defense of Goiko While the argument slid that the sanction had been so serious for having had Maradona as a victim. Antonio also thought that HierroMalaga player (and brother of Fernando Hierro), who pointed out that his rival had been broken (Da Silvafrom Valladolid) or caught his attention. Diego, by the way, was outraged that Athletic's fans made A spontaneous tribute to Goiko, Titing constantly, during the next European Cup meeting against the Polish Lech. “Goiko is not a hero“, I declared. Athletic players judged FOROPHYS AND HISTERY in the directors of Barcelona and They accused TVE of partiality in handling the images of the party. Barça players answered: it seems that we are the bad and they have hit us.
The resources followed. The sanction to Goiko was reduced to 10 games and then eight Before the growing anger of Barcelona and Barcelona while the sanctioned and his club said that there was no penalty. Miguel Muñoznational coach, he called Goiko to his next call. And there was a curious event: how The team And the German press, above all, campaigned on the hardness of Spanish football there was a PAtrioter Defense Movement of “National Honor” based on the eternal argument of “them too” or “them more.” And how the debate about the need for Protect the player “talented” Other rear companions were also supporting Andoni. “They are going to make a mothers football,” said the central Madrid's Atletico Juan Carlos Arteche.
Goikoetxea kick Maradona in the 1984 Copa del Rey final
In the end. Goiko reappeared in the League with SIX SALE MATCHES FULFILLED On Day 11. Diego, on January 18, scoring two goals to Sevilla. But the incident had an epilogue as ugly as everything before narrated. TOThletic and Barcelona agreed in the Cup final. Maradona and Menotti launched a series of pullas to Athletic. The new president of Los Leones, Pedro Auspecthe went down to the mud of criticism, with the support of Clemente and the players … and at the end of the game, in the Bernabéuwith rojiblanco triumph with 1-0 and after frequent launches of objects, Both teams lined up. After the tangana, in which Goiko intentionally kicked Maradona. Clemente claimed the expulsion from Spain of Schuster and Maradona. Diego paid attention to him because he left that same summer to Naples.
Walking the years Goiko continues to proclaim that There was no intention at his entrance to Maradona but recognizes that in current times it might have been direct red. He emphasizes that after that Diego was still the best player in the world and is true. But now the sensitivity is another and perhaps the process of that September 24 … now, the present 'Williams Case can be understood as another chapter of that original' case '. Spanish football is still a story of 'cases' …
