The president of La Liga, Javier Tebas, spoke after a lengthy session with clubs about proposed changes to the Sports Law and what they could mean for the future. He expressed a cautious stance, saying he was uncomfortably happy about the direction, primarily because a safeguard against the Super League had not yet been approved. His tone suggested a mix of relief and vigilance as clubs navigate the evolving regulatory landscape.
He explained that the untimely approval of the amendment to Article 89 left room for interpretation, while a paragraph in Article 47 was adjusted to balance the powers between leagues and federations. The move was framed as a way to better manage commercial exploitation beyond audiovisual rights, and Tebas indicated that this framework offered a workable solution for now.
Media briefing followed more than three hours of discussions with clubs about the text, especially after prior actions by the Culture and Sports Committee and the plenary session. The focus remained on how leagues may exercise commercial rights, the status of agreements with investors like CVC, and the ongoing question of the Super League.
From the outset, Tebas highlighted the goal of ensuring legal security. The intent with CVC was to protect and defend the current status quo of sports law, a system that clubs and the league feel comfortable with as the foundation for competition and governance.
When asked about a potential third change that some believed could favor the Super League strategy, Tebas noted that no such modification was progressing. He suggested that those who think it would help the project were mistaken, and he indicated that the government appeared not to back the plan. The rejection of a text that would allow leagues to veto clubs participating in competitions backed by Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus was seen as a setback by some, yet Tebas maintained that efforts would continue along multiple fronts.
He underscored the influence of the presidency in Madrid within Spanish sport but argued that the arguments used did not reflect a loss for the league. The discussion continued, and Tebas asserted that the fight against the Super League would proceed through available mechanisms and reforms. He expressed confidence in the cohesion of clubs, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and the league itself, together with other European leagues and UEFA, to pursue the necessary legal and regulatory paths.
stop super league
Even if a specific change was not included, Tebas remarked that the broader effort to stop the Super League would remain active. The idea was to keep the door open for a robust response, with Italy’s Serie A offered as a comparative example of similar efforts. The message was clear: the clubs, the federation, and the league would continue to coordinate on all fronts to counter any move toward a supranational breakaway competition.
Tebas stressed that the coalition of clubs, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and the league, along with other European leagues and UEFA, possessed both legal and strategic tools to challenge the Super League. While reforms were needed, the alliance could rely on entrenched support and established processes to safeguard national leagues and the traditional model of competition.
Regarding the European Court of Justice and its potential stance on a future decision, Tebas minimized the immediate impact. He noted that the majority of legislative states opposed the Super League model, and the European Parliament had likewise shown skepticism. The sense among Spanish officials was that the broader European consensus did not favor a project that would upend the existing structure of domestic leagues.
In closing, Tebas warned against overestimating the next move. He suggested that significant changes would be announced only when they were ready, and he hinted that the dominant clubs from Madrid would need to reassess their arguments. He concluded his remarks after a meeting that included Real Madrid and Barcelona, signaling that despite disagreements, the pursuit of stability for national leagues would persist in the longer term.