LaLiga's business model arouses the interest of the international press

This Thursday morning, the headquarters of LaLiga in Madrid hosted the first meeting of the Correspondents Cycle organized by the Spanish Forum of Leading Brands and the IE Business School. Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, was responsible for the opening of this cycle before an audience of journalists from around the world, explaining the business model of the organization and its business strategy to compete globally.

Miguel Otero, General Manager of the Spanish Forum of Leading Brands, stressed the "industrial and commercial ability of football" and the strength of its industry. "LaLiga has great prospects, not only sportingly, but also economically. We are witnesses of its international activity", he said. For his part, Gerardo Seeliger, IE Business School professor and expert in sports management, highlighted the work of LaLiga to "become a company in an industry", placing the economic framework of today's football. "LaLiga has led the training and professionalization of Spanish football and now faces four new challenges: Solvency, income, sustainability and trophies".

Javier Tebas began by referring to the efforts from LaLiga to create an international strategy. "The key points of our strategy is the reduction of the debt, creating an international brand and the quality of our product. To get here we made many efforts as economic control without losing competitiveness. Now, we are working to create a global brand and how to grow in that aspect. LaLiga begins to be positioned internationally", emphasized Tebas.

LaLiga's president also referred to the football industry and its current difficulties. "What we found internationally is a clash between what it is the football industry and what the bureaucracy, such as FIFA and UEFA is. The leaders of these institutions have not been able to adapt to the football industry, of sport industry. Have not adapted to the new industry model of transparency and good governance. To provide leadership towards such transparency and credibility, do not serve those who are currently within the power structure. It has to come from other positions and leagues have a key part in this change", noted Javier Tebas.

In response to the questions from the correspondents, the President of LaLiga was concerned by the decisions of the UEFA of "open hand with teams like PSG and Manchester City, who spend more than they have", and cases of corruption in FIFA, "the more the political than the economic, threatening even states." In addition, Tebas referred to the growth of LaLiga´s international broadcasting rights, that is "expected to grow back up to 300 million euros next year", thanks, among other initiatives, to projects like LFP World Challenge, in which has also worked the Brands Forum.

The breakfast was the beginning of a series of meetings with presidents and senior executives of major Spanish companies and brands, aimed at foreign press correspondents present in Spain. The aim of the series is to bring to reporters some of the leading Spanish brands with international exposure. LaLiga was the first guest at the meeting, organized by the Spanish Forum of Leading Brands and IE Business School.