By Andrew Warshaw
January 13 – Spanish football authorities, many of whose clubs are struggling financially, have launched an ambitious new tournament designed to increase brand awareness overseas. The so-called ‘LFP World Challenge’ will see friendly games played in Europe, North and South America and Asia between the 2014/15 and 2016/17 seasons.
Spanish league president Javier Tebas said the tournament, designed to help stimulate the Spanish economy and including teams from several countries, will be played across the world.
“We will travel to Houston, New York, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Turkey,” he said. “There is no financial value if we do not go out around the world.”
Participation of Real Madrid and Barcelona will be crucial to the tournament’s success and Tebas added: “We would have to fit with how their pre-seasons are, but we have a commitment from them.”
“The objective is to generate confidence and value in the Spanish brand and football can play a part in this. All our clubs are going to unite with this global experience, so that Spain’s brand can keep growing.”
Early details suggest the idea is to play games over three years during the close season with the first phase, to be called ‘Time of Challenge’, to be held this coming summer though so far no mention has been made about whether World Cup players will be available.
Spanish sports minister Miguel Cardenal said the matches were a chance for Spanish clubs, who currently reportedly owe at least €650 million in back taxes between them, to put something back into the economy.
“Spanish football generates recognition and admiration all over the world,” Cardenal said. “The LFP, like the rest of Spanish sport, is giving a lesson in how to help the economic recovery of our country.”
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