Real defend their role in Puskas fund-raising match
Real Madrid have defended themselves against criticism surrounding a fund-raising match for former player Ferenc Puskas and say they make regular contributions to help the ailing Hungarian.
Real Madrid have defended themselves against criticism surrounding a fund-raising match for former player Ferenc Puskas and say they make regular contributions to help the ailing Hungarian.
Real took part in an exhibition match in Budapest in August organised to raise funds for the medical care of the 78-year-old who requires full-time attention because he is suffering from a form of Alzheimer's disease.
The match reportedly resulted in a mere 7,000-pound ($12,000) donation to his family, while Real were said to have been paid an appearance fee of 892,000 pounds ($1.56 million).
In a statement on the club's website Real said that they had already agreed to play a pre-season friendly in Hungary before they were approached about taking part in the fund-raiser for Puskas.
"The organisers, Trendsport, proposed that the friendly be converted into a tribute for Puskas and Real Madrid accepted it for that reason whilst deciding to reject other more lucrative offers," the statement said.
"Real Madrid asked the organisers to reach an agreement with Puskas's family so that they would receive some money."
Real went on to deny media reports that FIFA had obliged them to make further donations to the player.
"Real Madrid has been contributing an important sum of money for a number of years in order to subsidise the costs of the player's medical care," said the club.
"From September 2000, Real Madrid has made a monthly contribution to Puskas via its Foundation and to a bank account in the name of the player and his wife Elizabeth."
The Budapest fund-raiser had been intended to provide a trust fund for Puskas's long-term care but newspaper reports said his wife had been left distressed and daughter Aniko had accused the organisers of "hijacking the name of Puskas" to get Real Madrid to Budapest.
Puskas is now to sell more than 100 personal mementos of his illustrious career at a British auction next month in an attempt to raise further funds, while FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said the organisation would also step in to help.
Hungary's most famous sportsman, Puskas scored 83 goals in 84 appearances for his country. He captained the side to victory in the 1952 Olympic Games and played in Hungary's historic 6-3 defeat of England at Wembley the following year.
Puskas joined Real Madrid in 1958 as a 31-year-old and became part of the club's folklore when he scored four goals in the 7-3 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup final.