Hercules Resolves Tax Dispute Linked to Abde Transfer Details
On the eve of Hércules’ centennial celebrations, the La Liga club received a fresh formal notice tied to its ongoing financial dispute. The case centers on alleged asset concealment related to the two million euro transfer fee paid by Barcelona for the Moroccan striker Abde. The matter has dragged through the courts for years, with authorities insisting that the club hid assets to offset other debts while the transfer money remained in dispute at the Treasury.
This Wednesday, the Alicante Court No. 9 faced a crucial juncture as Hércules refused to back down from their position, having already paid a portion of the disputed sum. The club surrendered a sum of 1.52 million euros as a component of the broader 2 million euro discrepancy, a move aimed at addressing part of the outstanding balance. Representations were submitted by Hércules’ defense and by the prosecution, and both sides demonstrated a readiness to continue presenting their arguments to the Alicante Provincial Court.
The presiding judge dismissed several objections raised by the defense and the club, including attempts to challenge the process. The court also rejected an appeal brought by a popular complainant who sought to extend the scope of alleged punishable acts beyond the signs already evident in the file. The judge stressed that the decision at hand does not constitute a ruling on guilt, but rather a preliminary stage where additional documents and arguments may influence the course of the case.
Hercules Settles Part of the Treasury Liability Linked to Abde’s Transfer
Mercedes Galician
The defense maintained that assets could not be hidden if they were used to settle other debts of the debtor, insisting that the transfer money should not be considered concealed. The defense contended that the player did not intend to conceal funds from the Treasury and that the money had legitimate uses within the club’s fiscal framework.
The judge’s order clarified the procedural posture: despite the contested ruling and ongoing proceedings, the court viewed the documents already submitted as convincing indicators of the unlawful seizure of assets connected to the case. The panel noted that subsequent hearings would still be part of a broader evidentiary process. It was emphasized that the current ruling does not determine the guilt of any party and that a portion of the case would proceed under abbreviated procedural rules while further evidence could shape the final outcomes.
Treasury’s Position: Attempts to Conceal the Abde Transfer
Mercedes Galician
In the wake of Hércules’ bankruptcy proceedings tied to concessional loans totaling 10.4 million, a settlement plan had set an initial two million euro payment with a debt repayment schedule. That arrangement was formally deemed settled without a payment by the Treasury in 2017, with the debt remaining outstanding. The case also involved Caja Rural and its Foundation, which held an account connected to the Abde transfer. Initial prosecutions against the financial institution were dismissed by the judge who determined that it acted in accordance with applicable regulations and policy, and there was no evidence of collaboration with the other defendants.
Throughout the proceedings, the court highlighted that certain financial arrangements were examined under the law, and investigators looked for any justification that might soften the perception of improper behavior. The focus remained on whether assets were misused to cover different liabilities, and whether actions transpired in line with the legal framework rather than as concealed conduct. Throughout the oral phase, the court invited continued argument from both sides as it weighed the factual record and the legal standards applicable to this kind of asset transfer dispute.