The Central Disputed-Administrative Court No. 11 in Madrid reviewed an appeal filed by the National Professional Football League and found it inadmissible in relation to the Presidential decision that addressed the conflict between the Professional Women’s Football League and the Royal Spanish Football Association regarding the organization and scheduling of the Women’s First Division calendar. The ruling confirms that the challenge lodged by the National Professional Football League against the decisions that set the governance for the women’s top flight fell outside the necessary procedural lanes and did not meet the established criteria for admissibility under the applicable sports law framework. In this resolution, the court clarified that the central question concerned coordination and proper distribution of responsibilities between the main governing bodies involved in the sport at the national level, and that the appeal failed to present a legally actionable basis to overturn the administrative order. The decision was issued within the context of ongoing scrutiny over how the calendar for the top division should be determined and scheduled, reinforcing the administrative boundaries that define the roles of the organizations in charge and the statutory oversight exercised by the central sports authority.
It is important to recall that July 2022 saw a notable disagreement between the Women’s League and the Royal Spanish Football Federation. At that time, the matter was referred to the Spanish Institute for Sports Council (CSD) for mediation. The parties were urged to coordinate their actions closely to avoid further delays after the postponement of a planned draw at their respective training centers and the parallel arrangements that had already been set in motion. This episode underscored the need for synchronized decision making among the key stakeholders to ensure the integrity and smooth operation of the league schedule. The mediation effort highlighted that sport administration functions require not only clear statutes but also practical collaboration among the principal bodies to prevent unilateral actions that could disrupt the competition calendar.
In response to the dispute, the CSD ultimately determined that the draw for the competition calendar should be organized by the Royal Spanish Football Federation in accordance with the applicable rules. The event took place in Las Rozas on August 12, 2022, with the organization that had previously claimed responsibility for conducting the draw acknowledging the role of the RFEF in coordinating the process. This decision emphasized the central principle that the highest authorities in Spanish sport must oversee scheduling procedures to ensure consistency, transparency, and alignment with the federation’s overall calendar plan. The action also reinforced the expectation that the responsible organization recognizes its duties within a broader framework of coordination and accountability.
In response to the CSD ruling, LaLiga joined a separate objection, arguing that the decision did not relate directly to the specific events in question, yet drew attention to the dynamic surrounding the top tier women’s competition. The objection contended that the LPFF had been established to administer the competition, but that this mandate did not grant exclusive powers to select match dates or to manage the calendar without collaboration with the RFEF. The central assertion was that coordination between the main bodies was essential, and that any attempt to act independently could undermine the orderly execution of the schedule. The CSD’s decision, as recorded, stressed that the conditions for the draw must be submitted to the RFEF so that it can discharge its coordinating function and facilitate the proper celebration of the draw. The decision therefore framed coordination as a shared obligation rather than a unilateral prerogative.
The employers’ association, led by Javier Tebas, voiced disagreement with the coordination concept described in the CSD’s ruling. Nevertheless, the Central Disputed-Administrative Court No. 11 in Madrid found that there was no operative stance to challenge and therefore declared the objection inadmissible. Consequently, the court affirmed the authority of the RFEF to assume responsibility for coordinating and conducting the draws related to the women’s top division calendar. This outcome reflects the court’s emphasis on the primacy of the federation’s coordination role and sets a clear precedent for how similar disputes will be evaluated in relation to the division of responsibilities among national governing bodies.