La Liga Boss Points to Ballon d’Or Dominance and Debt Concerns, Insisting Spanish Football is on Sustainable Path
La Liga President Javier Tebas has issued a stark warning that the Premier League’s era of massive financial dominance is unsustainable, defiantly rejecting any concern over the growing economic gap between English and Spanish football.
The comments came as La Liga announced its updated squad salary limits, a system that has forced clubs like Barcelona to tighten their belts while promoting financial stability. The stark contrast in spending was highlighted by a net spend of just €28m across La Liga this summer, a mere fraction of the Premier League’s staggering €1 billion outlay.
When asked about the widening gap, Tebas agreed with Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski’s recent assessment that Premier League clubs often overpay for unproven talent. “I think I agree with Lewandowski – they pay a lot for players that have played six games, that haven’t done anything,” Tebas stated. He pointed to Spanish football’s quality, noting, “If you look at the Ballon d’Ors… I think it’s 12 of the last 15 have come from La Liga.”
Tebas argued that success isn’t solely bought, citing La Liga’s strong performance in European competitions. “It doesn’t worry us… La Liga has been doing just as well as the Premier League, if not better.” His core argument, however, was one of sustainability. He believes the Premier League’s spending, fueled by debt, cannot last and cited recent moves by the UK government to introduce an independent regulator as proof.
“Is it reckless? Well my question for you would be why has the government implemented a regulatory system?… They can’t be losing a billion pounds every year,” Tebas asserted, framing La Liga’s stricter financial controls as a prudent long-term strategy.
The league’s firm financial rules have faced internal criticism, however. Getafe President Angel Torres recently called La Liga the “laughing stock of Europe” after being forced to sell players to meet its salary limit. In response, La Liga CEO Javier Gomez defended the system, explaining it ensures clubs only spend what they earn. “If the clubs were earning the money, they can spend it,” he said, noting that the rules are designed by and voted on by the clubs themselves.
The debate underscores a fundamental philosophical divide: the Premier League’s high-risk, high-reward model versus La Liga’s cautious, sustainability-first approach. Tebas remains confident that, in the long run, fiscal responsibility will triumph over reckless spending.
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