“There are countertops in Romania! I look at them. The federation knows, but it suits them and does nothing!”

On Friday, Gazeta publishes a spectacular dialogue with Marica, stretched for two hours. From the great successes and achievements of the career, to the serious accusations launched in the direction of the federation and difficult choices. The former peak says when he felt humiliated and where he does not have the same opinion with Mircea Lucescu – find out everything in the newest episode of GSP Podcast.

Ciprian Marica, at Podcastul GSP “2 to 1”: “There are countertops at the 2nd League, the Federation knows, it suits them and does nothing”

Marica was directly involved in the 2nd League, when he was leading the Lighthouse until Gică Hagi. Now, he says he looks at the “B” matches that he considers suspicious.

“I find it suspiciously what is in the 2nd League. Many games that happen there … It seems suspicious and it seems to me that the federation passes passively, nonchalating as if nothing happens,” Marica told GSP “2 to 1”.

Asked directly if there are countertops to the 2nd League, Marica has strengthened her idea: “Yes! I look at the matches. I do not want to give names, I do not want … but there are information I have and they certainly have those there, from the federation, and I do not make any attitude, no decision!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6rkftzuddq

I come and tell me: “You see that this match is played, this will be the result, so it will run …”. So I know, who are not directly involved, and those from FRF? From this point of view, it is a serious problem that the federation looks passively and I don't think this is accidental.

As I say to Slăau: I do not think it happens without the Federation having knowledge. I know but don't intervene, because it suits them”.

Then what is the solution? “You have to want a solution. As long as some benefit from these things and agree, they do not want to get rid of them. So the question makes sense, but not for me, but for the buttons, who can decide. Things can be done, but it is not desired. The integrity commission has no value!”.

“I promote the responsible game”

Asked if the role of shareholder in Liga 1 in combination with the image posture of a bookmaker also raises such suspicions, Marica commented as follows:

“Here I do not think about suspicions, no. I promote the responsible game, I urge people to see it as a game. And as in any game, you play. Now what's going on next … it's not in my control”.

Mircea Sandu proposed the head of Federation on Marica: “You cannot change things alone. And people will not change”

In 2022, Mircea Sandu, the former president of the Romanian Football Federation, declared for the newspaper that he sees in Marica a future candidate for the most important position in the Romanian football administration.

“When I returned home, I made some mistakes. And that's because I was naive, I had just finished football, I was euphoric, I had enthusiasm, I was making after saying X and Y. Some decisions I made were then at the impulse of others. The main decision I talk about is to make a team in Constanta.

It was not a dream of mine, I got there through an ambition. They knew the people there to grow my ambition, to challenge me to do something. I am satisfied with what I did, but the experience was expensive, difficult, difficult to take.

At 32, to take a team of the 2nd league, you know, you save … It was hard, terribly hard, terrible costs. And then I thought it would be tempting to have a federation function, namely the president. At that time.

Today, I think of this 10%. I don't see her … I think you can't change things alone, you need a team. I'm a team man, but it's hard to form this team. It is a work that I am no longer willing to sacrifice. There are a lot of things to change.

We, in football, are accustomed that things are going too. Why should we change? People are reluctant to change. I don't think I could change things alone, people are not willing to change. Many suits them how it is now, “Marica said at the GSP podcast” 2 to 1 “.

• The podcast with Ciprian Marica will be available on the youtube channel of the Sports Gazette (Subscribe here!), as well as on gsp.ro, Friday, from 6:00 pm

“2 to 1” with Ciprian Marica, Friday, 18.00. The main topics addressed:

• Why he was no longer good to come to the national team;
• harsh events, unspoken with his former coaches;
• Name the best Romanian footballers today – believes that one of them would face in Barcelona;
• has a major reproach for Dennis Man;
• Choose the best Romanian all-time striker;
• accuses the federation of closing eyes at the 2nd League countertops;
• He devolled a match arranged from Spain, but which did not take place;
• What rule would remove from football and what rule would introduce;
• Why not understand FCSB with Reghecampf and Mihai Stoica;
• Is the image role of a bookmaker with the shareholder in Liga 1?
• What advice has in business;
• It contradicts Mircea Lucescu: “We cannot dominate our opponents”;

About Ciprian Marica:

• In Romania he played at Dinamo and FCSB;
• Abroad he has evolved in Shakhtior (Ukraine), Stuttgart, Schalke (Germany), Getafe (Spain) and Konyaspor (Turkey);
• It has 24 goals in 127 matches in the Bundesliga;
• in La Liga has marked 6 times in 27 appearances;
• He has played in the Champions League 22 times, managing to score 4 times in the most important interclub competition in the world;
• It represented 71 times the national team – 25 goals, being in the top 5 scorers in the history of Romania;
• 12 million euros were paid in total for Marica transfers in the foreground;
• He has won 7 trophies throughout his career;
• He is now a minority shareholder at the Lighthouse.