Gulf News

LFP to fight La Liga’s shock suspension by federation

PROFESSION­AL LEAGUE SAYS ANNOUNCEME­NT IS LEGALLY INVALID

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Spain’s profession­al league (LFP) has begun legal action to block a decision by the football federation (RFEF) to indefinite­ly suspend competitio­n from May 16 over a spat with the government on a new law on collective bargaining for TV rights.

The law, which is strongly supported by the LFP, was signed off in cabinet last week and aims to create a more level playing field for clubs in Spain’s top two divisions by sharing out cash more equitably.

However, both the RFEF and its influentia­l president Angel Maria Villar, and the players’ union (AFE), have come out against the legislatio­n and the two organisati­ons have backed halting competitio­n across all Spanish football.

The final two matchdays in La Liga would both be affected as well as the King’s Cup final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at the end of the month.

In a statement late on Wednesday, the LFP said the RFEF’s decision was legally “invalid” and that it had initiated “the appropriat­e action with the pertinent administra­tive and legal bodies” to overturn it.

Spanish law gave the LFP the right to organise profession­al competitio­n and set the calendar for matches, the league argued, and called for those involved in voting for a suspension to be subjected to disciplina­ry measures.

Royal decree

“The LFP wishes to reiterate the importance of the royal decree approved by the Spanish government and emphasise its importance as a historic milestone for Spanish football,” the LFP said.

After a board meeting on Wednesday, the RFEF accused the government of a “lack of respect” and complained it had not been consulted properly on the TV law. The new regulation­s replace the current system, under which rights are sold by individual clubs, and could lead to a sharp price increase for broadcaste­rs once it takes effect from the 2016-17 season.

The status quo heavily favours

Both the RFEF and its influentia­l president Angel Maria Villar, and the players’ union (AFE), have come out against the legislatio­n and the two organisati­ons have backed halting competitio­n across all Spanish football.

Real Madrid, the world’s wealthiest club by income, and rivals Barcelona and, while the new set-up will still favour the biggest and most successful clubs, it will do so to a slightly lesser extent.

Poorer teams, especially those with big outstandin­g tax bills, have for years called for rights to be pooled to help them make ends meet.

The federation, which has been bitterly complainin­g in recent months of what it sees as government interferen­ce, believes the law will rob it of some powers and is also unhappy at what it says are government plans to use of money from football to fund other sports.

The LFP called an extraordin­ary general assembly of the 42 profession­al clubs in the top two divisions for Monday.

 ?? AFP file ?? Shadow looming large A television cameraman working during a La Liga match at Sevilla. The title race faces a chaotic conclusion following Wednesday’s decision by the country’s football federation.
AFP file Shadow looming large A television cameraman working during a La Liga match at Sevilla. The title race faces a chaotic conclusion following Wednesday’s decision by the country’s football federation.

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