Real Zaragoza are beginning to get a teeny, tiny inkling of the footballing jungle they will have to hack their way through next season with seedy stories of unsavoury goings on dribbling out of the Spanish second division.
Adding to the ongoing reports of clubs in dire pecuniary positions (Salamanca), incompetent owners (pretty much everyone) and buying their way into the league only to flop like a Sevilla winger in sight of goal (Granada 74) is the murky business of match fixing.
At the beginning of June slightly unhinged, Oleguer-hating Malaga striker Salva Ballesta accused promotion rivals Real Sociedad of having offered incentives to Malaga's opponents to try just that little bit harder during the final run-in.
But this is Xavi standing next to Nikola Zigic compared to the allegations now being hurled back at the Andalusian club.
An unnamed FIFA agent has sent a report to the Spanish FA saying that former Real Madrid president and current Malaga big wig, Lorenzo Sanz tried to buy two games for 250,000 euros each in the second division - namely Tenerife v Real Sociedad (1-2) and Sevilla Atlético v Malaga (0-1) - according to Tuesday's AS.
"It's a brutal, sorry manipulation. There's nothing more to be said," was Sanz' immediate reaction.
The organisation's competition committee is currently studying the evidence, which includes supposed recordings of conversations between Sanz and the agent.
However, it seems that any skulduggery on Malaga's part may not have been required thanks to Real Sociedad's truly spectacular incompetence on Sunday afternoon.
Winning 2-1 away to Alaves with 92 minutes on the clock, Sociedad let in a late equaliser. And two minutes later proceeded to gift their relegation threatened opponents a winner.
A victory for La Real would have left them in prime position in second place with just one game to go. Instead, the club which have just announced debts of 25 million euros will have to beat Córdoba and hope that either Malaga or Sporting above them fail to win.
It's popcorn at the ready, with Joan Laporta's increasingly entertaining war of words with the head of the referendum campaign to oust the King of Catalunya stepping up a notch or two.
On Monday, Oriol Giralt responded to the publications of pictures of him alongside members of, Ultra group, Boixos Nois by saying he had no idea who they were.
"I didn't know any of them and it was the first time that I had seen them," said the cranky Catalan in his defence before launching a corker in Laporta's direction.
"I don't know if he (presumably Laporta) has sat down on a plane with arms or drugs smugglers, or not."
On Monday, Real Madrid continued their campaign of not unsettling Cristiano Ronaldo whatsoever - despite what nasty Man United's official accusations suggest - with big Bernando Schuster admitting that the Portuguese pouter would "clearly be a great signing and would adapt well to the side."
AS' Tomas Roncero has already decided that Ronaldo would wear the number nine shirt - currently held by Roberto Soldado - so as not to offend the delicate sensibilities of Raul.
The Madrid based press have also been continuing their policy of asking everyone on the planet for their reasons on why Ronaldo should move to Madrid. But Mundo Deportivo report that their latest target Simao refused to play their game.
"I am an Atlético player and you know what it means... I cannot recommend this," asserted the prickly Portuguese player.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
