By Gareth Messenger
May 17 – Javier Tebas, President of the National Professional Football League (LFP), believes that four clubs in Spain are in a frail financial position with two of them on the edge of liquidation.
Tebas said, “Deportivo, Murcia, Racing Santander and Xerez are the clubs that are in a more delicate in economic terms to the point that the last two are in serious danger of disappearing.”
The president also expressed concern about the economic situation of Spanish football in general and said that “the Professional Football League is going to take much more seriously its regulatory capacity” placing one of its first targets to “stop debt to the Treasury to zero by 2020.”
He was in Gijon, making his first visit to the club after a group of club employees were assaulted by Sporting Gijon supporters last week.
The LFP president has also indicated that he favours “to regulate but not prohibit the emergence of investment funds (buying into clubs)” because it would be “detrimental” to Spanish football, and pointed out things like “limiting the number of players that control in each club.”
Clubs are now required to submit a draft budget for next season that must be approved by the LFP.
Tebas pointed out that since 2010 the financial gap between the richest and poorest Spanish clubs had been closing. “The difference in money paid to big clubs has reduced considerably” in regards to the amount of television rights, believed to be from “a ratio of 1:13 two years ago to 1:6.5 at the moment.”
All the clubs Tebas mention are struggling on the field as well as off it. Xerez CD were officially relegated from the Segunda Division almost two weeks ago while 2009/2010 Copa del Rey semi-finalists Racing Santander are also on the verge of dropping down to Segunda B. Real Murcia who are just three points above Santander. Deportivo La Coruna’s financial difficulties have stalked them all season and the Galician club are living dangerously in the Primera, currently in the relegation places.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734840977labto1734840977ofdlr1734840977owedi1734840977sni@r1734840977egnes1734840977sem.h1734840977terag1734840977. Gareth is Editor-in-Chief, www.laliganews.tv @G_Messenger