On February 20, La Liga president, Javier Tebas, and General Director, Javier Gómez, broke down the new spending limits in the Spanish first division.
The pair joined forces at La Liga HQ to discuss their thoughts on a plethora of subjects, including the mass controversy regarding Barcelona’s payment to Enriquez Negreira, the former VP of the Referees Committee.
Throughout the press conference, they discussed several regulatory changes, which are listed below.
In addition, the two Spanish titans explained the new spending limits. Barcelona have had its cap dropped from $700 million to $692 million. The club managed to maintain a relatively high limit due to the financial restructuring they underwent to reduce debt.
But the league leaders will still have to slash €200 million before the next campaign through reducing costs or attracting new investment.
However, the club didn’t escape the media event without criticism. Cadena SER radio programme Que t’hi jugues, accuses the Spanish giants of paying refereer Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, through his company DASNIL 95, €1.4m (£1.2m) during Josep Bartomeu’s presidency.
Speaking on the matter, Tibas said: “If [Laporta] doesn’t explain why it was paid, I think he would have to resign.”
La Liga spending limits breakdown
Tibas also took aim at the Premier League. He alleged that the English first division’s system is having a negative effect on ‘the beautiful game.
He explained: “The Premier League is destabilising European football. They are the Super Debt League. In audiovisual revenues, Barça and Madrid would be third or fourth in the PL. We are looking for a stable business system, not like them.
“The commercial demand of the Premier League has not changed in recent years. The big difference is that they have a large number of owners who are driving the clubs to losses. La Liga clubs have lost €250m, PL clubs have lost €2 billion.
He added that if La Liga were to apply similar financial strategies, the league would lose the traditional values it holds so close its heart, rendering it as no more than an assett for billionaires to make wealth, while the fans lose their place as democratic owners.
Tibas said: “If we want the model of owners spending and indebting their clubs, like those in the Premier League, then we would jeopardise the organisational model of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Athletic Club, who do not have owners.”
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Featured Image Credit: La Liga