Spanish clubs divided over TV-revenue negotiations
Seven of the clubs in Spain's Primera Division rejected the standing proposal for splitting TV revenues in negotiations between the clubs in the country's two top leagues on Tuesday 16 November.
La Liga teams Sevilla, Malaga, Espanyol, Real Zaragoza, Villareal, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, as well as four clubs from the Segunda Division, rejected the current proposal, which is due to be
instated ahead of the 2014–15 season.
The proposal stipulates that Barcelona and Real Madrid would split 40 per cent of the total revenues, which are guaranteed to total at least 850 million euros per year, while the remaining 18 La Liga clubs
would share the rest based on their position in the league table.
It was agreed, however, that a so-called parachute payment of €9m would be awarded to teams that are relegated from the top flight at the end of the season. The first of these payments will be handed out
at the end of the current season.
Mallorca president optimistic
Not all clubs were opposed to the standing proposal, however, as Mallorca president Jaume Cladera expressed his satisfaction with the agreement.
"It is a breakthrough and a step forward, but it is not definitive," Cladera told Spanish daily
Diario de Mallorca about the deal.
At present, each La Liga club is allowed to sell its TV rights individually, which has resulted in Real and Barcelona claiming over 50 per cent of the total revenues.
"The income gap is still very distant from the big two and the rest. However, they have agreed a total reduction overall, and the tendency is to move closer to the models used in other European countries
when the income is more evenly distributed. Now, we have to step by step. This is a significant move forward, but is it still insufficient for the future."
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