The Sunday market at the parking lot of Elche CF's Martínez Valero stadium will reopen this weekend by court order. The ruling ends a two-week closure that followed a major police raid against counterfeiting and a long-running dispute between the club and the concessionaire company.
A judge notified the club on Thursday, 27 August, of a prior precautionary measures procedure. The document orders Elche Club de Fútbol to allow access, setup, and normal celebration of the Sunday market under the conditions prior to its suspension. The resolution instructs the club to refrain from installing closures, fences, or security devices that impede the activity. Non-compliance could constitute a crime of disobedience to authority and lead to fines.
Why was the market closed?
The market closure came after a large-scale police operation in June targeting piracy related to the Football World Cup. The unprecedented raid in Elche resulted in nearly 100 arrests and the search of about 50 stalls at the Martínez Valero market. The operation also took place in Dénia, Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga. Officers seized over 66,000 counterfeit shirts, with an estimated market value exceeding 2 million euros. The Ministry of the Interior calculated the economic damage to holders of industrial property rights at over 7 million.
Tension among vendors was evident. "We have been four years with uncertainty," stated some merchants. Several are demanding compensation for damages after several days without activity, which they attribute to the effects of the police raid. The company operating the market, Fukuelya, informed vendors via internal communication of the return to activity. Traders had been unable to work for two weekends, one of which coincided with Elche CF's match against Barcelona at the stadium.
What is the conflict between the club and the concessionaire?
An internal conflict has persisted for years between the market operation and Elche CF. In March 2023, the market remained inactive for months due to the club's refusal to allow it, citing non-compliance with conditions that the concessionaire denied. Fukuelya then filed a lawsuit against the entity of Christian Bragarnik for temporarily suspending access to the parking lot.
The club demanded the company "clarify aspects" of a contract signed a decade ago and provide proof of all licenses and authorizations. Elche CF communicated to the concessionaire that, following the club's change of ownership, irregularities had been noted in the self-contracting of the concession, payment of the price, and non-compliance with cleaning obligations. The company was required to provide proof of licenses, insurance, and security measures.
What does the court ruling say?
The court ruling ultimately upheld the concessionaire company's right to resume its activity at the venue. The ruling asked the club to "refrain from performing any act of disturbance" of that possession over the premises and installations of the parking area under the conditions of the license from 30 March 2010 and 6 March 2017. The judge did not evaluate the contract signed between the club and the company in 2011, pointing out that its validity should be resolved in another proceeding.
The person responsible for the company managing the stalls stated that 1.8 million euros were paid for a concession until 2037, later extended to 2042 due to losing 25% of the space because of works for a shopping centre that was never built. The company signed the contract with Elche CF in 2012, when José Sepulcre was club president. Vendors lament that although the club initially benefited from this non-sedentary sales operation, they now want a stadium and surroundings fitting of the First Division, and the market no longer seems to fit.
How does this affect Elche CF's current context?
This off-field issue arrives during a tough sporting moment for Elche CF. The franjiverde team is 19th in La Liga, with just 1 point from three games and a recent form of LLD. They have scored 3 goals and conceded 9, with a -6 goal difference, and sit 8 points behind leaders Real Madrid. The next fixture is a home match against 14th-placed Real Sociedad on 7 September. Furthermore, the squad faces this challenge without the sidelined Adam Boayar and Yago Santiago, as detailed on our injuries page.
The intention now is for the market to continue normally every Sunday, provided stadium activity allows it. There is special concern among merchants and the concessionaire to avoid any new incidents after the raid. One vendor summarized the stance: "With clothing, food, and above all, with the issue of counterfeits, given the current situation, nothing that is not legalized will be allowed." Fans can follow the team's progress in our standings section.
