Javier Tebas: "Ángel María Villar's irresponsible attitude is doing a lot of damage to Spanish football"

The president of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional, Javier Tebas, spoke to the media after the meeting held with José Ignacio Wert, the Minister for Education, Culture and Sport, and Miguel Cardenal, the Secretary of State for Sport, and expressed his surprise that no members of the RFEF had attended.

On 6 March, the RFEF, AFE and LFP held a meeting that led to the publishing of a statement of consensus in which all parties urged the Government to reach a decision on the Royal Decree on television rights and in which absolute respect was expressed for the particular characteristics of each party making up the commission.

Today, it had been anticipated that the positions expressed would be consolidated before the Minister for Culture and Sport. The non-attendance of any representative of the RFEF caused surprise among those present.

After the meeting, Tebas commented that Ángel María Villar, president of the RFEF, "confirmed during the board meeting held yesterday, 25 March, that he would attend today. I think that at the very least it is a lack of respect or seriousness, and it's frightening to think whose hands the RFEF is in. Spanish professional football must react to this audacity."

The LFP head reiterated that he will "never be tired out by these displays of rudeness, because there are 300 million euros at stake for Spanish football and we can't allow disrespect to be shown to the clubs, who have so much at stake looking to next season. Villar knew how important today's meeting was for the survival of many clubs. The future of Spanish professional football, and that of amateur football, is at stake."

Asked if Villar considers himself "untouchable", Tebas said: "He's unaware of the current situation of professional and amateur football, so much so that his attitude is irresponsible, inconsistent and is doing a lot of damage to Spanish football.
Finally, Tebas insisted that "the Liga de Fútbol Profesional has complete respect for the RFEF and has always maintained a spirit of collaboration."

The Liga de Fútbol Profesional has called all clubs and PLCs to an Extraordinary Assembly in Madrid on Monday 30 March.