It must be that some people are inspired by the World Cup finals performances and subsequently desire a place for themselves at the highest level despite all the evidence against them.
It`s for the second consecutive time that Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu is reinstated in Romanian “Liga 1″ after the World Cup finals, weeks after being relegated at the end of the competitive season. Not at all renowned for its footballing tradition, the small sub-Carpathian town is though powerful due to its “black gold” of the mining industry, coal. Or what remained of it.
Pandurii was relegated from the Second Division in 1990-1991, the first full season after the collapse of the socialist regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu, and that was more or less a true reflection of its football power. Yet Pandurii grew in influence and confidence through its club president, Marian Condescu, a local profiteer who in exchange for his favourable votes for the Romanian Football Federation clique pushed his side through the ranks. Or managed to stage Romanian Cup finals on his own turf.
It was scandalous in 2006, at the end of the season, when the small Bucharest outfit Sportul Studenţesc, which just narrowly missed on an UEFA Cup spot from the 4th position due to a negative aggregate result against local rival Dinamo, was excluded from next season`s competition due to an unpaid 300.000 euros amount to the taxman. Almost in Europe but thrown out alltogether from “Liga 1″. Qui bono?
Well, well, Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu. The miners` team from the town of “Brâncuşi Column” was reinstated in “Liga 1″, in Sportul Studenţesc`s place, despite of its relegation. “The Students” from Bucharest fought their case at the Arbitrary Tribunal for Sport in Lausanne, which rejected the evidence on the basis of overnight drawn regulation and papers filed by Romanian Football Federation after Sportul`s contestation.
Romanian Football Federation hammered Sportul all right and Pandurii continued to play in “Liga 1″. It is worth mentioning that Sportul had the second most wins in that season 2005-2006, being the second best scoring team. What a farce, to throw out of competition a decent team, pushing for an European place!
Four years later, in this july of 2010, a few days after another World Cup finals, the same Pandurii Târgu Jiu was once again reinstated through the back door in “Liga 1″. This time at the expense of International Curtea de Argeş, another small town sub-Carpathian club, not far away from Târgu Jiu, which went bankrupt. One week thinking of the August schedules in Second Division, the next week playing in the curtain raiser of “Liga 1″, in front of TV cameras, against vicechampion Unirea Urziceni, on friday the 23rd. What a backbounceability for Pandurii and Mr. Condescu.
But then this is almost common practice. The lower the Romanian league, the more swaps of places, selling and buying of divisional positions, withdrawals and other bizzare stuff. All under the corrupt eyes of Romanian Football Federation and LPF, Liga de Fotbal Profesionist.
In 2009, FC Piteşti was excluded from “Liga 1″ due to corruption charges against its president and the 15th placed Gaz Metan Mediaş was reinstated in the elite division. Another 15th placed lucky outfit in 2008, Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ, which was reinstated despite relegation due to Delta Tulcea`s licence non-acceptance by the federals. Another season, another scandal. 2007. Liberty Salonta got promoted but sold its place to UTA Arad.
There wasn`t though a more scandalous case than the one of Poli Timişoara, relegated from the Second Division in 2002, with 15 - 105 goal difference, but ending up in … “Liga 1″ in the same summer, due to Fulgerul AEK Bucharest promotion to the elite and its relocation to Timişoara. Can it get more hilarious that this? Not to mention that funnily named Fulgerul, The Lightning Thunder, bought its place in “Liga 1″ in 2000, with 1.200.000 dollars, from the aptly named Rocar Bucharest. If anybody understands anything anymore.
Well, this can be an explanation for those of you who wonder why isn`t Romania anymore at the World Cup finals. Since that 1998 with all those Cloned Blondes… Some people have better ideas by staying put at home, in front of TVs, and swaping or buying with impunity undeserved places. Roll on Brazil 2014, it can be a third time lucky for Pandurii.
