Spanish boost for national football leagues

JOHOR BARU: Spanish La Liga president Javier Tebas believes the M-League has the potential to grow and become one of Asia’s most competitive football leagues.

Since being elected to head La Liga in 2013, Tebas has played a pivotal role in making the Spanish League one of the world’s best football leagues.

Yesterday, the 55-year-old met with 24 M-League teams and shared his experience and views.

“There is potential in Malaysian football where it can grow from strength to strength but it’ll not work overnight,” said Tebas.

“Maybe, it’ll work through our three-year partnership,” said Tebas, after a meeting between Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) and M-League clubs at a hotel here.

FMLLP, headed by its chairman Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with La Liga in January and came out with a 50-year blueprint to help shape national football leagues.

Tebas said teamwork was crucial in changing the football landscape.

“There must be cooperation between the teams, the league organiser and stakeholders to make it happen,” he added.

FMLLP chief executive officer Kevin Ramalingam said: “It’s an honour to have Tebas, a man of great stature in world football. The teams have a better understanding on where we want our football to go.”