Sevilla president blasts La Liga's television revenue distribution
Jose Maria del Nido, president of Sevilla, has come down on the unequal distribution of television revenues in the Spanish top flight.
La Liga, called Liga BBVA for commercial purposes, currently allows clubs to sell their television rights individually. As a result, Real Madrid and Barcelona, the league's two most successful clubs, collect more than 50 percent of all television revenues.
On Monday, 25 October, del Nido spoke out against a new proposal, which sees Real and Barcelona claim 34 percent of all revenues, while Atletico Madrid and Valencia will only receive 11 percent.
The proposal, which was submitted by Barcelona and Real on 5 October, suggests that the remaining 55 percent should be shared among the other clubs, including Sevilla.
"The contract they have offered to the two large teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, I’m not going to sign...If it is necessary, the two large teams can go and play in the French or Portuguese league and we will play with 18 teams."
In competitions such as the Champions League, television revenues are split evenly between the home and away sides. Del Nido added that a similar model should be applied to the Spain's first division.
"The presidents of the clubs have not yet decided on the key negotiation. It is understood that in the Champions League, Barcelona and [FC] Copenhagen are paid the same, but yet in the Spanish league Racing and Real Madrid’s income is very different. We
will end up with a league that is not competitive. Sevilla are the seventh or eighth club in terms of revenue, and I am disappointed to see the leaders of some clubs who have liquidity problems, who cannot see the wood for the trees."
Tags: