La Liga strike threat over TV rights

La Liga could go on strike on the weekend of April 2-3 to protest the Spanish government’s refusal to amend television rights legislation.

The head of Spain’s Professional Football League (LFP) has called for the government to scrap legislation that guarantees one top-flight match from each round is shown on free-to-air TV.

Dropping the rule, which has been in force since 1997, would give Spanish first and second division clubs more bargaining power when negotiating rights with TV companies.

LFP President Jose Luis Astiazaran was quick to point out that dropping the guarantee would not necessarily mean free-to-air matches would cease to exist.

“We discussed the obligation for free games, which does not mean there won’t be any, rather that we do not want the obligation to exist,” Astiazaran told reporters.

“We will set a timeframe for talking to the government and parliamentary groups but if there is no conclusive progress matchday 30 (April 2-3) will not be played.”

“If that is the case, that matchday would be moved forward a week and the league would end in June.”

The LFP also released a statement explaining that Spain was the only country in the world to guarantee a free-to-air game each round, constituting ‘the expropriation of the clubs’ rights with no recompense whatsoever’.

The league body also confirmed its stance had the ‘unanimous support’ of the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), an organisation with 23 member countries across Europe.

Barcelona visit Villarreal on the weekend in question, while Real Madrid host Sporting Gijon at the Santiago Bernabeu.