television rights
The looming threat of LaLiga halting its activities in protest of the newly proposed Sports Law has diminished almost entirely this Tuesday. The Congress Culture and Sports Commission, while the final vote remained pending, saw 39 of 42 football clubs align with two of the league’s key demands. The Socialist Party (PSOE) supported these points, with partial backing from the People’s Party (PP), while the remaining groups largely stood firm in line with the clubs’ positions in this ongoing dispute.
As a result of these concessions, concerns about a potential break among clubs appeared to ease. The clubs planned to reflect further at an extraordinary meeting scheduled for Thursday. Of the three requests deemed most critical by LaLiga, two were granted, though the legislation could still evolve during the parliamentary process in the Senate.
Both PSOE and PP indicated agreement that Article 46 of the proposed law should revert to its original form, a standard that has been in effect since 1990. The consensus included the principle that changes proposed by the relevant Spanish federation affecting official professional competitions would require a prior, positive assessment from the corresponding Professional League. LaLiga considered this safeguard essential for protecting its governance against the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Despite this agreement, the text remains open to modifications as it moves through legislative stages.
television rights
The discussion about audiovisual rights and their potential co-marketing became the most heated topic. Ciudadanos presented a transactional proposal aimed at preserving the bulk sale of these rights, a stance supported by other groups, including Unidas Podemos and Compromís. The PSOE showed more caution initially, yet an open negotiation occurred between the Ministry of Culture and LaLiga during a commission recess. This exchange ultimately persuaded the Socialists to back the initiative, while the PP remained withdrawn from endorsing it at that moment.
The third LaLiga request addressed the power to exclude clubs that might join a future Super League. Participants recognized this as the most challenging battle, aware that such a move could be contested at the European level. It was anticipated that a ruling within roughly six weeks could shape the phrasing of this provision so that it might be retained or adjusted according to the decision from European authorities.