#MeGustaElFutbol

For Spanish football, it is a positive, necessary step that shows solidarity. That’s the assessment of the heads of the clubs and SADs (PLCs) on the Royal Decree, published in the Official State Bulletin on 1 May.

Today, a La Liga press release appears in the country’s main written newspapers with the opinions of presidents, players and media outlets on the historic agreement that benefits the whole football family, including football fans, women’s football and non-elite sportsmen and women.

"The Royal Decree was necessary for the implementation and growth of pay television in Spain. It's absolutely the right thing to do".
Javier Tebas, president of La Liga.

"The Royal Decree ensures the sustainability and competitiveness of La Liga".
Josep Maria Bartomeu, president of FC Barcelona.

"Season after season La Liga demonstrates that it is an international leader, and it seems incomprehensible to risk its prestige".
Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid.

"The passing of the Royal Decree has been very positive because it is going to make La Liga a more competitive tournament". 
Enrique Cerezo, president of Club Atlético de Madrid.

"I wish that in my day the Government had agreed a Royal Decree like this that is so beneficial to clubs, players and sportsmen and women".
Clemente Villaverde, director of football at Club Atlético de Madrid and member of AFE.

"It not only benefits professional football, but also amateur football, the clubs in Segunda B. It's very positive in all aspects".
Alfonso García, president of UD Almería.

"The Royal Decree is a very good piece of news that’s historic and positive for everyone".
Alex Aranzábal, president of SD Eibar.

"The Royal Decree is a step forward viewed from the point of view of the common good, it will allow clubs to grow with more exhaustive economic controls”.
Jokin Aperribay, president of Real Sociedad.

"Spanish football needed the centralised sale of rights and the Royal Decree is a first step of growth for Spanish football".
Amadeo Salvo, executive president of Valencia CF.

"The Royal Decree brings greater resources to all actors in football, without exception”. Constantino Fernández, president of RC Deportivo.

"The Government has shown a clear awareness of the needs of Spanish football, which is going to become much more balanced. There can be no doubt that all clubs are going to be very satisfied that this has been achieved, something we have been striving for for a long time".
Quique Pina, president of Granada CF.

"Professional football is generous with sport in general, not just with football. The new agreement shows solidarity with elite sportsmen and women”.
Carlos González, president of Córdoba CF.

"The decree is good for football, something that had been much anticipated. There must be dialogue to complete the arrival of a new and better period for Spanish sport".
Joan Collet, president of RCD Espanyol.

"It's important, football will be more balanced and more competitive”.
Ángel Torres, president of Getafe CF.

"The Royal Decree improves the situation of all levels of Spanish football, because it enhances the value of the television rights as a product”.
Quico Catalán, president of Levante UD.

"We consider it historic. It gives us oxygen and is part of what we need to maintain what we have”.
Vicente Casado, director general of Málaga CF.

"This is the first step towards a really strong La Liga. It has been sought for many years and in the end, with the work of everyone, it has been achieved".
Raúl Martín Presa, president of Rayo Vallecano.

"Spanish football needed this new Decree to regulate the television rights and create a more balanced state of affairs".
José Castro, president of Sevilla FC.

"With this Decree, La Liga's value will be enhanced. Looking to the future, we will achieve even greater agreements”.
Fernando Roig, president of Villarreal CF.

"Everybody wins. It's a historic decision, a legal tool that helps to reposition Spanish football in Europe".
Miguel Ángel Ramírez, president of UD Las Palmas. 

"It is the most important piece of news emanating from Spanish football since it became known as professional football".
Pablo Comas, president of Recreativo de Huelva.

"It's an important contribution of money for the RFEF and all of us, in addition to stability and legal security for footballers".
Antonio Veiga Suárez, president of Real Sporting.

"It is a social and supportive Royal Decree. We are proud and thankful of the Government for their sensitivity towards sport".
Alfonso Fernández de Trocóniz, president of Deportivo Alavés.

"I cannot understand what possible interests other institutions who live off football have in breaking or stopping this".
José Bouso, president of CD Lugo.

"It is very difficult to survive without external help, especially for smaller clubs. Now everyone will have more opportunities".
Isabel Tarragó, president of UE Llagostera.

"The Royal Decree will improve professional football, as well as more modest and amateur leagues. We are going to put ourselves on the same level as the best countries in Europe and we will be able to progress as a league". 
Francisco Rubio, president of CD Numancia.

"The Royal Decree will give oxygen to a number of clubs with regards to their debts, and it will allow a lot of us to grow as entities. From all of this our players, fans and sport in general will benefit. If it doesn't happen, nobody wins; we all lose".
María Victoria Pavón, president of CD Leganés.

"It opens a door of hope for the future of clubs. It will mean a collective benefit from grass-roots to elite level football". 
José Fernández Nieto, president of SD Ponferradina.

"The foundations of our present and future football are being laid. It is time to look forwards and become stronger together in order to advance towards a better, renowned league".
Miguel Concepción, president of CD Tenerife.

"We have been born again. Nothing will be the same in La Liga. This is the first step of a difficult but also challenging task”.
Carlos Suárez, president of Real Valladolid.

"The Royal Decree will strengthen La Liga on an international level. The competition will be much better, and the results will be seen by both clubs and fans".
Juan Carlos Ollero, president of Real Betis.

"The approving of the Royal Decree for the centralised sale of audiovisual rights is a fundamental step for football".
Juan Antonio Sañudo, president of Real Racing Club.

"It is key for the evolution and progression of Spanish football, especially for us sides with fewer resources”.
Julio Álvarez, captain of CD Numancia.

"The Royal Decree means order with regards to the selling of rights, which will in turn allow all of us to grow worldwide”.
Jaume Roures, founding partner of Mediapro.

"The Royal Decree is vital for the stability of pay TV operators. It will enable us to grow together".
Álex Martínez Roig, Head of Content at Canal +. 

"The Decree stops the law of the jungle in Spanish football; by thinking about big lies, some people are only being stubborn regarding small interests".
Óscar Campillo, Editor in chief of Marca.

"I like the Decree, I think that it deserves a bigger consensus".
Alfredo Relaño, Editor in chief of AS.

"To recognise the necessity to develop a model of centralised selling, fair distribution and solidarity with supported football of the audiovisual rights of the Primera and Segunda División through a Royal Decree Law that we invite the Government, with the utmost urgency, to pass".
Official statement from the RFEF, AFE and LFP Joint Commission, 6 March 2015.

"To ratify the unity of Spanish football with the unconditional support of the RFEF and the LFP, for the promulgation, with the utmost urgency, of a Royal Decree Law that regulates the unified commercialisation of the audiovisual rights and their supportive sharing throughout all of Spanish football".
Official statement from the Board of Directors of the RFEF, with the attendance of AFE, 7 April 2015.