The head of Spain's sports council hails landmark La Liga TV rights deal

The head of Spain’s sports council Miguel Cardenal has hailed the new legislation which will bring Spanish soccer in line with how the Premier League and Serie A are marketed globally.

Late yesterday, Spanish lawmakers passed legislation governing the sale of television rights to broadcast matches and the distribution of the income.

Previously, big clubs – such as Real Madrid and Barcelona – were able to reach lucrative TV deals that enabled them to consistently outbid rival clubs for players.

Now, there will be an auction for television broadcasting rights, with La Liga standing to make billions of dollars, which will be distributed fairly among Spanish clubs.

Following the news of the landmark decision, the head of Spain’s sports council called the new legislation “historic” and detailed the benefits of the decree.

“It’s a historic measure and one that was necessary for Spanish football,” Miguel Cardenal said. “It’s the culmination of an objective that we’ve been chasing fruitlessly for years.

“We have to think big. We have to think Spain can have a competitive league championship and be up there competing against any other.

“The legislation contains the tools needed to improve competitiveness. The reform program that started with the implementation of financial control has come full circle with his decree.

“Spanish football has undertaken an extraordinary transformation and it can now look to the future with optimism. The league will be more even and there will be more money going into amateur football, women’s football, Segunda B and other top-level athletes.

“It will give our football a new lease of life and a new dynamic, and it adapts the league to modern times.

“Bringing in this decree was an urgent matter. The clubs were desperately asking for it, and now finally they are placated and I thank them for their support.

“This is not just a day for the clubs to celebrate. It’s a wonderful day for players, professional sportspeople and fans.”

Cardenal was then asked why it took so long for the legislation to be passed.

“It’s true that Spanish football wasted too much energy in internal battles of the past 20 years,” Cardenal responded.

“There was the danger of seeing our league become low-profile, second-rate.

“You only have to look at the Premier League, where last season the bottom-placed club earned more than Atletico Madrid [the La Liga champions].”