MADRID ( Associated Press) — Valencia sacked president Anil Murthy on Monday after private conversations were leaked that made the Spanish club’s leadership look bad.
The announcement came about two weeks after Murthy spoke about the players, the club’s financial situation and plans for the future. The newspaper Superdeporte published the recorded audio of a private dinner attended by the president and some businessmen in April.
Among his comments, Murthy joked that he would kill player Carlos Soler if he leaves the team without a transfer. Valencia claimed at the time that the audio had been edited and taken out of context.
But on Monday, Murthy ceased to be an employee of the team as a result of the comments “which unfortunately have affected the Club’s relationship with the fans, the government authorities and Valencian civil society.”
“The Council wishes to clarify that the content of the leaked conversations between Anil Murthy and various third parties are personal opinions of Anil Murthy and not of Valencia CF. Valencia CF disassociates itself from these opinions,” the club stressed in a statement. “The Council considers that a change in leadership is required to regain the credibility of the fans and the community in order to position Valencia CF on the path to success.”
Valencia fans have harshly criticized Murthy and Singaporean owner Peter Lim, saying they treat the club only as a business.
In Valencia’s last game of the season this month, thousands of fans protested outside the Mestalla stadium, waving “Lim go home” signs and shouting at the Singapore businessman to sell the club. It seemed that there were more fans outside the Mestalla than inside watching Valencia beat Celta de Vigo 2-0 in the League match, where they finished in ninth place.
“The Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Bai as interim CEO. Sean Bai has been with the club since 2018 and is currently the Director of the Valencia CF Academy,” the team detailed in a statement. “The Council will immediately begin a search process to identify a new President of Valencia CF, and an announcement will be made in due course.”
