When discussions about Spanish professional football stretch into government corridors, the refrain is familiar: we are fed up. New points of friction surface as the long awaited Sports Law reform begins to emerge. It may arrive in December, but a firm date feels unwise while everything remains unsettled.
The update process for the text, in effect since 1990, advanced after talks with 39 of the 42 LaLiga clubs. A broad political consensus started to appear, albeit not a full one, and the hardest steps seemed completed. Congressional and Senate approval loomed, and the message from a club source was plain: no more inconsistencies, substance matters now. Most clubs align, except for Barcelona, Madrid, and Athletic Bilbao, who have opposed the LaLiga leadership led by Javier Tebas. The recent CVC episode stands as a vivid illustration of the tensions involved.
inconsistencies
Several points of debate revolve around the articles still under review, awaiting the presenting report and potential changes before the final vote in both legislatures. The central contention concerns a safeguard that would shield Spanish clubs from a hypothetical Superliga scenario.
Until recently the project clearly stated that the Royal Football Federation and La Liga could refuse licenses to clubs taking part in competitions outside the established football hierarchy, including a Super League. A political compromise later removed this clause, a move some attribute to influence within La Liga and Florentino Perez’s camp. The change at the end of September, along with the removal of a shield for joint marketing of television rights, is now handled through a Royal Decree, a rule subordinate to the law, which caused frustration among Madrid and Barcelona, plus Athletic Bilbao.
The clubs responded by seeking a meeting with the culture and sport minister. They voiced a willingness to declare a lockout, a disruption that would pause competition if their demands went unmet. Media outlets reported the outreach created considerable disturbance within government circles.
It is unacceptable for any party to pressure media to stop the competition in order to influence outcomes. The executive noted the ministerial meeting held recently, which did not seek publicity and appeared to be another routine gathering in a series of discussions about sport in recent months.
broad representation
Minister Iceta, the secretary general of the ministry, and the minister of state for sport and the CSD president attended the meeting on behalf of the government. None issued statements upon leaving.
The clubs, however, project strength alongside Tebas and ten presidents and managers from other major clubs. Those involved in the La Liga Delegation Commission have clear instructions to stay quiet while awaiting movement from Iceta. Sevilla’s president, along with leaders from Eibar and Levante, were among the three who spoke for the group, emphasizing a prudent approach to dialogue.
Ultimately the decision was made to pause the competition. The mood expressed by insiders suggests the situation would need to become far more critical to justify such a step. Revenue had already declined during the two-year pandemic, and any drastic move would reverberate through clubs and the sport itself. There is an understanding that if necessary, action could follow, but the aim is to begin with conversation and problem solving.
Government sources remind that the content of laws is decided by Congress and the Senate, not by the ministry alone. Mediating roles are acknowledged, but there is a shared awareness of a narrow window of opportunity. The warning is clear: no broad political consensus should be sacrificed to satisfy the demands of third parties.