‘La Liga would have been second best’

The secretary of state for sport, Miguel Cardenal, says the move to collective TV rights is vital as ‘La Liga would have become a second-level League.’

A three-hour meeting took place at which the government agreed a proposal for a change in law by royal decree that would allow the Primera and the Segunda to sell TV rights as a group, rather than clubs working individually.

LFP President Javier Tebas hailed the decision as ‘the birth of a new League’ while Cardenal was no less enthusiastic.

“It’s an historic and necessary measure for Spanish football,” he said, AS reports.

“An objective has been achieved that for too many years has been unsuccessful. You have to think big, so Spanish football has a competitive championship and can compete with anyone. This is the tool to increase competition.

“Spanish football has undergone a remarkable transformation and can face the future with optimism. The League will be more equal and there will be solidarity contributions to amateur football, women’s football, the Segunda B and top athletes.

“We have to allow our football to breathe and get into a new dynamic, adapting to new times. This royal decree was urgent. The clubs were desperate and finally their relaxed and all the support is appreciated.

“It’s not only a day for the clubs to celebrate. It’s a big day for the players, professional and amateur.

“The big winners are the clubs and especially the players at medium and small clubs.

“It’s true Spanish football has lost too much energy in wars of football for the last 20 years. So that makes the joy greater.

“There was the danger of seeing our tournament turned into a low or second-level League. You only have to look at the Premier League and see that the bottom team earned more than Atletico Madrid last year, and the players earn more.”

Tags Cordoba Deportivo LFP Miguel Cardenal TV rights
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