Anyone with a passing acquaintance with how organised crime works (or even someone who has watched The Sopranos) will know that it is as much about perceived power as it is about real power. True, you may have the means to “whack” your enemies, but constant bloodbaths are bad for business. Better to frighten everyone into submission by making it appear that you are far more powerful than you are.

That basic concept comes to mind when evaluating the most recent work of Baltasar Garzón, the crusading Spanish judge whose investigations range far and wide, from Augusto Pinochet to Silvio Berlusconi to Henry Kissinger. Garzón has most recently been sinking his teeth into the Tambov Gang, based in St Petersburg, Russia. A number of their alleged associates are now based in Spain and in June police arrested 20 of them, including Gennady Petrov, one of the reputed ringleaders.

Last week, Spanish newspapers revealed that, as part of the investigation that led to the arrests, phone calls were intercepted that discussed Zenit St Petersburg’s run in the Uefa Cup last season. According to reports, in one of them an associate of Petrov correctly predicted Zenit’s 4-0 semi-final, second-leg win over Bayern Munich; in another, Petrov revealed that he paid Bayern “50 million” (the currency is not specified) while suggesting that the victory in the final against Rangers was also “fixed”.

According to Spanish media, Garzón’s camp are taking these allegations seriously and have passed their information to the Munich police. Zenit, too, are taking it seriously and have issued a strenuous denial, threatening to sue the offending newspapers. Bayern have laughed off any suggestion of impropriety.

As for Uefa, it has said that it is aware of the allegations and will investigate, just as it examines all allegations of irregularity (and apparently, it says, it receives many).

First and foremost we ought to remember that these “facts” were leaked to the press and, when dealing with leaks, it is good to be careful. We do not know the context in which these things were said, how they were translated into Spanish (presumably Petrov and friends speak Russian to each other) or whether these taped conversations exist. There is a reason why prosecutors do not speak to the press until charges are filed and it is to avoid this kind of trial by media.

That said, it is not unthinkable that these conversations did take place. But that does not mean that anything untoward happened. What better way to win friends and influence people than by boasting that you are so powerful that you can pay off one of Europe’s biggest clubs?

Imagine a powerful underworld figure telling you that he rigged last season’s FA Cup so that Liverpool and Chelsea would lose to Barnsley. What would it take for you to believe him? Would a seed of doubt be planted in your mind? It would in mine. Even if it were not true. Because that is where power comes from: more often than not, it is an illusion. And the most important battles are won without spilling one drop of blood.

That said, with the seed of doubt planted in my head (courtesy of Garzón), I watched the highlights of Zenit versus Bayern on YouTube. You can do the same and make up your own mind.

And another thing...

Real Barcelona mystery

Talk about Jekyll and Hyde. Nine days ago, Barcelona squeezed out a win against Espanyol with the help of some dubious refereeing. In midweek, they were played off the park by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League but controversially came from behind to win 2-1.

And then they go out and pummel Atlético Madrid 6-1 at the weekend, putting on a veritable clinic in attacking fluidity and pinpoint passing. Time will tell which is the real Barcelona, but if it is the one observed against Atlético, expect to see them in Rome on May 27.

Fifa wrong on Poland

So let me get this straight. Polish football has been beset by a bevy of corruption scandals that resulted in a number of clubs being forcibly relegated. The Polish Government decided to suspend the highest echelons of the Polish FA to investigate further and clean it up once and for all. And now Fifa is threatening to ban Polish clubs and the Poland team from international competition because the Government is “interfering” with the running of the sport. In fact, if the deposed officials are not reinstated today, that is what will happen.

What is wrong with this picture? Corruption is a crime. It is the Government’s job to investigate crimes. Fifa does have a statute that says that member FAs have to be free from political interference, but surely if there is a reasonable suspicion of corruption (which, given recent events, seems obvious) someone has to investigate. And if the Polish Government, which is democratically elected by the Polish people, does not do it, who will?