LaLiga takes part in International Sports Law Conference in Beijing

LaLiga president Javier Tebas participated in the International Sports Law Conference in Beijing on Wednesday, where he shared the floor with representatives from FIFA; the Asian Football Confederation (AFC); the NFL (the National Football League, the leading competition for American football); and MLS (Major League Soccer, the top tier of professional football in the United States and Canada), among others. Topics up for discussion at the event ranged from finance in football – including financial controls – to transparency and integrity in sport, the relationships between the various football leagues and institutions across the planet, and the different ways in which the world's leagues are organised. 

"LaLiga takes a proactive managerial role in relation to its clubs and SADs (public limited sports companies). Their finances are rigorously monitored to identify risk scenarios and plans are devised to address them," Tebas explained during the presentation he gave. On this note, he reeled off some of the figures that have been achieved thanks to this financial oversight. He highlighted the fact that LaLiga posted record revenues of €2.6156 billion in the 2014/15 season and outlined how Spain's clubs and SADs have slashed their respective debts due to the measures implemented by LaLiga. 

With Beijing being the venue for the conference, Tebas took some time to discuss the Chinese investment in LaLiga, including a number of sponsorship deals and other agreements that have brought Spanish football closer to Asia. 

The president went on to play up the growing crowds for LaLiga matches, with attendances topping 13.5 million in the 2014/15 season. He also stressed the fact that LaLiga has created and sustained some 154,000 jobs, between direct, indirect and induced positions, including those at clubs and suppliers. Last but not least, Tebas drew attention to LaLiga's commitment to youth and grassroots football, in which its investment rose to €84.5 million in the 2014/15 campaign, an outlay that helped 571 teams from 16 different age groups, who together accounted for 9,969 players and 1,518 coaches.