“This was the purpose, we protect them”

Today, in the Youth and Sport Commission has given a favorable opinion to the changes of the sport of the sport. The new law will be voted in Parliament and, if it passes, be promulgated by President Nicușor Dan. Specifically, the changes stipulate that a club supported by public money can become a private law club and can promote in Liga 1 if two public entities are associated.

Romeo Lungu: “The new law is not for Steaua. We wanted to protect the mayors”

Romeo Lungu, in a GSP dialogue, said that the changes aim to protect the mayors who finance the professional sport by the Court of Accounts, not to help the star promote.

In addition, it revealed that if the law is not voted on June 25, then it will vote in September, after the parliamentary vacation. Which would mean that public law teams in Liga 2 will not be able to promote at the end of season 2025-2026.

Romeo Lungu / PHOTO: Buzaumedia.ro

– Good evening. I am looking to talk about the changes made to the sport of the sport. I saw that you are one of the initiators.
– We are about 30 PSD members, it was an idea of ​​our group. I signed it all 30. The main idea was to support the local authorities, to protect them. It wasn't for Steaua or any other team. Now, the City Hall and the County Council can make a club. There are many local authorities who want to help the sport and are avoiding because there have been cases in which the Court of Accounts impute their money. The law was interpretable. And in a way he was judged in Bucharest, otherwise in Braila. I said we had an initiative and we thought that we protect the local authorities. This was the goal. Those who want to associate and finance a club can do it legally and concretely. There are no interpretations. But the law does not oblige anyone to associate. It only gives them this possibility.

– How can two public entities be associated to form a private entity?
“I don't know exactly.” Must be some rules of application. We need to talk to the specialists. He has just entered the commission, the law is not yet voted. Maybe not voted, it may be postponed.

“But why two and no more?” Or not just one?
– There can be more, not just two. No matter how much. I did not want to be only one because it can happen that the City Hall to make a team and the Local Council to make another. That's how he was in Buzau. And it's not okay. It has to be just a club, funded and supported.

– I understand that tomorrow is voting.
– Let's see if it enters the agenda. Group leaders decide whether or not. I don't even know … Let's see if it enters the agenda tomorrow. Then it must be promulgated by the president. It will last. The discussion was related to Steaua, right?

– Yes. That it is a law that helps it.
– Well, who is associated with?

– Now it can be associated with a public institution.
– Well, before, it could be associated with a private entity. Didn't he have the right to promote? Now with whom to associate? Do Steaua and Dinamo unite? This was not the purpose. If some want to take advantage … there is no change to help a club.

– But from now on the expenses of the local authorities will not increase?
– We wanted to protect those who spend. We said I can do that. Some have done it in the past and they have happened. It can be done by those who have very high income and want to support the sport. In the context of the cuts, each public authority thinks about how the money is spent. With this law, several local authorities can be associated to make a club. Now he has to find a private. In Buzău a private was found. But all the local authorities gave the money. The private one gave nothing. And now the team is gone. Financing exists now. It was clear. Mr. Brian also came from the USR with that amendment with provision to the salary plan. To stay the same, to be clear. There are traditional clubs that can be supported. Maybe they want a City Hall and a County Council to associate. The deprivation will hardly put more money. Without the state it will be increasingly difficult. In Liga 2 and Liga 3 you do not exist without money from the state. And if we talk about handball or volleyball … if you don't want, don't spend money. If there is no money at the City Hall or the Local Council, they have no place to give money. But we wanted to protect the local authorities. We can't fight. Maybe some are afraid to make a club. You don't have to make a Liga 1 club.

– I understand that certain changes would have been tried in Article 31, which defines a professional club.
– This is actually the temptation. There were three amendments deposited by gold. We, that is, PSD, PNL, UDMR, minorities and USR rejected them. He would have allowed clubs in the current form to promote. But we did not approve them. We do not make laws for certain clubs. And we don't even get them out if one or the other is upset. We just want to help local authorities. There will be more and more authorities that will no longer give money.