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Spanish Leagues

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Real Madrid overtakes Manchester United in rich list

Submitted by WG on Fri, 19/04/2013 - 06:16

Business magazine Forbes has been compiling its football rich list since 2004 and for the first time Real Madrid have knocked Manchester United off their perch at the top of the list. It is not that United have stopped growing, simply that Real have grown even faster.

Forbes value the Spanish giant at $3.3bn with Manchester United just behind on $3.17bn. Barcelona are in third place. It is evident that the two leading Spanish clubs are impervious to the troubles of the country's economy.

Real Madrid faces state aid probe

Submitted by WG on Fri, 05/04/2013 - 08:53

Real Madrid is one of a number of European football clubs facing a preliminary investigation by the European Commission into allegations of illegal state aid.   The underlying issue here is that many clubs in continental Europe receive favourable treatment from local authorities in terms of the construction of stadiums and other facilities.

Would Uefa's FFP rules stand up in court?

Submitted by WG on Mon, 01/04/2013 - 09:16

We have consistently taken the view that Uefa's financial fair play (FFP) rules are open to challenge in court.    It is therefore interesting to see Belgian lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont, who was part of the team who won the Bosman case in 1995, arguing a similar case in the Wall Street Journal.

Successful but bankrupt: the story of La Liga

Submitted by WG on Wed, 30/01/2013 - 09:56

Spanish football is undoubtedly successful.   Six of the seven La Liga clubs in European competition advanced to the knockout phase, including all four Champions League representatives.   It is not only about Barcelona and Real.   La Liga clubs have won five of the nine past Europa League titles.

Real Madrid break through €500m revenue threshold

Submitted by WG on Thu, 24/01/2013 - 14:03

Real Madrid has become the first club in any sport to surpass the €500m revenue threshold in a single year, according to the 16th edition of the Football Money League from Deloitte, the business advisory firm. The Spanish club achieved a €33.1m (7%) increase in revenue to €512.6m, and in doing so has claimed the top position in the Money League for a record equalling eighth year, matching Manchester United’s reign from 1996/97 to 2003/04.

Valencia acquired by regional government

Submitted by WG on Tue, 22/01/2013 - 15:14

Many clubs in continental Europe play in stadiums owned or subsidised by local government.   Even so, it is relatively novel for a local government to own a football club.   However, that is what has happened at La Liga's Valencia.

Deportivo files for bankruptcy protection

Submitted by WG on Fri, 11/01/2013 - 19:10

Deportivo La Coruna has become the latest Spanish Primera Division club to seek assistance to avoid going out of business after announcing on Thursday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Malaga to fight financial fair play sanctons

Submitted by WG on Wed, 02/01/2013 - 17:58

Malaga has announced that it plans to appeal to the Court for the Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Lausanne over sanctions imposed by Uefa under its financial fair play scheme.  

The sanctions do not affect its current Champions League campaign, where it is the Round of 16, but would see it banned for at least one season the next time it qualified.   They are currently fourth in La Liga and have a good chance of qualifying next season.

Fans fight to save club

Submitted by WG on Tue, 13/11/2012 - 16:37

Lower division clubs have been hit particularly hard by the economic crisis in Spain.    Real Oviedo are based in the capital of the province of Asturias in northern Spain which borders the Atlantic coast. They have played in the lower divisions for some years, but have a proud history.

Has football replaced Catholicism in Spain?

Submitted by WG on Thu, 18/10/2012 - 11:00

This article by Canada's leading news magazine on the state of Spanish football perhaps goes too readily down 'the football bubble has burst' route which is the increasing first resort of journalists everywhere.   Undeniably, Spanish football faces big challenges which are in part related to the country's economic, financial and political problems.   It could suffer the kind of decline experienced by Italy's Serie A.