The boot is on the other foot

IN a landmark equality move, a new Spanish law governing the sale of television rights to broadcast soccer games, (and the distribution of the income) was approved by the Spanish government.

The head of Spain’s sports council Miguel Cardenal has hailed the new legislation by saying: “It’s an historic measure and one that was necessary for Spanish football.”

The law will regulate the rights to transmit both first and second division games, as well as the Copa del Rey and Super-cup competitions, said, Jose Ignacio Wert, the minister for sport. He added: “The legislation, which will come into effect in 2016 and replace the current arrangements.”

At the moment, individual clubs negotiate their own TV contracts in a system that is known as, ‘the rights of arena’ agreement, Wert said.

The aim of the law is to bring Spanish soccer in line with how the British and Italian football leagues are marketed, and will correct existing ‘imbalances’ in earnings that have always allowed top clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona to claim a disproportionate amount of the TV income, leaving lesser clubs struggling for money.