The unseen face of austerity. The reaction in tears of two young people, when they saw how the local authorities in Galati allocates the money
Handball players Iulia Eiler and Mălina Bichir, surprised by photojournalist Sorin Pană Photo: facebook.com / Sorin Pană
In front of a phone, where I read the information in an article Golazo.ro, two young people are the protagonists “a sad and painful moment”, as described by the photojournalist Sorin Pană, who surprised him. They learned that 85% of the budget for the financing of the sport was allocated to the football team Oțelul Galați, a private football club, while the handball team, which is owned by the town hall, received no leu.
“Two young handball players from CSM Galati, they read with tears in their eyes the latest news about Sport Gălățean. Something appeared in Golazo written by Cătălin Tolontan,” writes journalist Sorin Pană.
The two young people are Iulia Eiler and Mălina Bichir, handball players who play at GSM Galati. The title of the article I read is “Public money anomaly in Galați” and is signed by journalist Dan Udrea, being referred to Cătălin Tolontan's Facebook page.
What does the article reveal? The way, while the austerity measures are continued, “some local mayors and councils do not give up making decisions that are extremely controversial in terms of sport financing.”
How the money for sports to Galati was divided
The money allocated to the sport in the city, 6,000,000 lei, the equivalent of approx. 1.2 million euros, for the second half of 2025, were divided into seven parts.
Most, over 85%, respectively 5.14 million lei (the equivalent of over 1 million euros), was directed to a private football club – Steel Galați, which works in Liga 1.
The rest of the amount was divided by the other 6 clubs or programs for sport:
- United Galați – 800,000 lei
- Galati University Sports Club – 25,000 lei
- Football Club Association Galați University – 15,000 lei
- County Sports Dance Association – 8,000 lei
- SMART Galați Sports Club Association – 7,000 lei
- Association of the Sports Club Pol Gal Danub – 5,000 lei
In contrast, the CSM Galati handball team, which works in the first female league, received no lion.
The handball team is owned by the town hall, as is the case throughout the Romanian handball. “Without the funds from the local authority, those who run the club made the decision to move in the first stage, to Brasov, for the game with Corona, only with juniors. And the final score was humiliating: 40-20 for Brasov. Almost certainly, CSM Galați will withdraw from the championship,” writes in the article Golazo.ro.
The article also recalls that the mayor of Galați, Ionuț Pucheanu (PSD, announced In the local press that the swimming pool and the Multipurpose Hall, two objectives to be built, are placed waiting.
“It's an uncertain situation, we are affected”
After reading the article, Mălina said, according to journalist Sorin Pană: “We will go to look for something to work on Kaufland, or elsewhere, I want to finish my studies, we have no money for rent, food, I do not know where to take it …”.
Iulia Eiler also reacted to Golazo.ro today: “It's an uncertain situation, we are affected. We hope it is ok, we do not know how things will evolve. Excuse me, I would not want to talk, I was best waiting and see …”.
A few years ago, both young people appeared in the local press with the goals scored at the Romanian national team.
