Miracles don’t happen…do they?

By: wan | July 26th, 2009

Just when I was getting used to life in the Segunda Division, there are now rumours coming out of Spain that there is a chance that Real Betis may be reinstated into La Liga this season!!

Imagine my shock when I first came across this piece of information over the weekend. One full season of being a Betis fan has taught me not to count the chickens before they are hatched (and even after they are hatched, better check and make sure they are really chickens!) but this has been the first piece of “good” news to have filtered through since May this year.

For those not in the know, the news coming out is that Xerez one the sides promoted this season may be denied a place in La Liga due to financial irregularities. Marca is reporting that the Sports Council in Spain have received an official complaint that alleges a possible irregularity in the club’s recent financial dealings. The transaction in question relates to a capital increase received by the club in 2002 that was not officially registered, an offence that led to Compostela being demoted from the top division in 2002-03

Obviously as with all such cases, Xerez have denied everything, saying, “The information released today is completely false, and malicious…Xerez wishes to convey a feeling of calm to all of our supporters and our legal team are working to submit all relevant documentation to confirm the falseness of the allegations.”

If the allegations are proven, it appears that Xerez will be demoted to Segunda B with Alaves moved up to Segunda while Betis will take their place in La Liga. It seems that Lopera’s men have already been at work, saying that they are ready to “take the necessary steps” to make their return to the Primera Division. It seems the case will now be transferred to the Professional Football League, who will investigate the issue further and report back with their findings within the week.

Now before anyone gets ahead of themselves to think that this is something that is already happening, the reports remain unsubstantiated at this point.

If this proves to be true and we get back into La Liga, it will truly be one of the most amazing things that have happened to me as a football fan. Truth be told, my sympathies are with the Xerez fans whose emotions are ironically hanging on the same pendulum as myself but only on the opposite end. It would be cruel to deny them their day in the sun but if it means Betis once again being back in the big time, my selfish genes are going to take over – completely.

Lest people conspire that such things do not happen, history (especially in Serie A with Genoa) shows otherwise and the possibility is not an illusion. Let’s be honest, such irregularities happen all the time at most clubs even if most of these never see the light of day so it is not beyond the realm of reality that Xerez actually committed the offense. If anything, the only “wrong” they did was to be found out. Any club with a chairman like Maneul Lopera will know this only too well.

But let’s look on the positive side. If we do get reinstated, being back means we don’t need to sell our stars, it means the chance for a clean start and it means 2 more opportunities to inflict more pain on our Seville neighbours. But most of all, it means hope and optimism have returned to Betis and it represents an opportunity to finally put the club back on the right path, in doing the right things.

Okay perhaps the last wish is too much to ask but at this moment, I don’t really care…if there is way for Betis to make their way back to La Liga this season, I don’t care about anything else really…to once again be able to watch them, to support and to suffer at the highest level – isn’t that the wish of every single football fan?