It has been a week of movements in Spanish football. Today, the massive LaLiga Impulso project, which includes an accord with the international fund CVC, was passed by 38 votes in favour to 4 against (Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and a fourth club, a Second Division team which did not want to be named), as reported by the president of Spain's Professional Football League, Javier Tebas, after a special general assembly.
38 for, 4 against
Under the deal voted today, the London-based private equity fund CVC Capital Partners is to take a 10% holding in the Spanish Liga, but it will not negotiate for the rights of those clubs that have voted against, and in turn, they will not receive anything of the 2.7 billion euros of capital which the company will inject. "The agreement is the result of ten months' work, while we went through the European Super League issue and other conflicts that have put it in danger," said Tebas, who criticized "the other model of the Spanish league backed by the clubs that have voted against."
Laporta and Florentino, in the official stand during the last Classic / EFE
In fact, a last-minute change had to be made due to the strong opposition from the largest Spanish football clubs, with Barça and Madrid threatening to sue Tebas and the investment fund, but it seems that they have avoided this missile. In the end, CVC agreed not to negotiate within its 10% holding the audiovisual rights of the clubs that voted against, in exchange for not jeopardising the agreement.
Originally, CVC Capital Partners demanded the support of the two major La Liga clubs in order to push through the deal, but it was forced to renounce this. In return, the four clubs that voted against will not receive anything of the 2.7 billion euro sum which the agreement reputedly involves, but nor will this affect their rights or income, now or in the future. Thus, neither Barça nor Madrid will receive the 300 million euros to which they were entitled under the deal. However, these enormous amounts are reserved in case they change their minds at some point.
Tebas sees Super League behind the "no"
After closing the deal, Javier Tebas, gave a press conference at which he said he was clear about why Barça and Madrid had refused to accept the deal. "Those who were against it are the usual clubs... They want another model of league, but it is not what the majority backs. Their refusal must be read in terms of the Super League," said Tebas.
Some Barça fans showed their opposition to the Super League / Pau de la Calle
At the same time, says Tebas, the La Liga Impulso agreement is a lifesaver for Spanish football, which will allow the average level of the competition to rise. If this happens, television rights could also be worth more and even the clubs that have voted against would then see benefits. Tebas continued his criticism of the two giant Spanish clubs:
"At Madrid and Barcelona, they are not interested in a strengthened league, they are not interested in its clubs being strengthened and improved," he lamented. The CVC agreement also prevents the clubs that voted in favour from competing in the Super League, and according to Tebas, that was the clincher in the negative votes from the blaugranes and the blancs.
Main image: Javier Tebas during a press conference / Europa Press