Official statement

The Assembly of the National Professional Football League that convened in Madrid on 11 May 2015 has agreed the following:

1. The Royal Decree-Law 5/2015, of 30 April, concerning urgent measures in relation to the selling of rights of audiovisual content of professional football, has brought about a satisfactory resolution to the continuous conflicts that have taken place in the sector over the last fifteen years, the Clubs/SAD that are affiliated to the National League, state their unconditional support of the aforementioned Royal Decree-Law.

2. The urgent processing and coming into effect of the Royal Decree-Law allows all of the affiliated clubs/SAD and La Liga to sell the audiovisual rights together for professional football competitions with greater speed and efficiency. There is no doubt that this be a great benefit for everyone who is currently involved with Spanish football (Clubs/SAD, players, coaches, federations, spectators…).

3. The agreements adopted by the Delegate Committee of the General Assembly and the Management Board of the RFEF, on 5 May, constitute an obvious breach of the agreements adopted by the mixed RFEF-LFP Committee for audiovisual rights on 6 , March, as well as the agreements adopted by the same Management Committee on 7 and 27 April that requested the urgent enactment of a Royal Decree-Law that would regulate the sale of audiovisual rights and the fair share of the money between all of Spanish football, La Liga condemns the aforementioned conduct of the RFEF that goes against its own action.

4. The aforementioned agreements by the RFEF are radically opposed to the legal system, in terms of both forma and substance and cause serious harm to those involved in football (Professional clubs/SAD, fan clubs, players, children, fans,…) La Liga has been obliged to request, from the relevant bodies, the declaration of legal invalidity of the aforementioned agreements, as well as the purging of whatever disciplinary measures that may be taken against those who have adopted the aforementioned agreement and have not opposed them, as well as against who may have participated in their possible implementation. The right is reserved to take corresponding legal in order to claim for extremely serious losses and damages, whether economic, sporting, social or of any other nature, that may have resulted from such agreement, for both affiliated Clubs/SAD, as well as for the professional football competitions.

5. The strike called by the AFE, on 7 May, in clear collusion and strategy with the RFEF, is equally illegal and does not comply with the agreements outlined in the Collective Agreement for professional football activities that was recently signed between this National League and the AFE on 25 July 2014. As such, La Liga has once again been forced to take the corresponding legal actions in defence of the legitimate rights and interests of the professional football clubs and affiliated Clubs/SAD. The Royal Decree-Law guarantees all of the rights of players who are the main beneficiaries of it.

6. In accordance with what was agreed at the LFP General Assembly on 30 March, the conduct of the President of the RFEF should once again be condemned as he did not respect the agreements reached. His actions in collusion with the football union cause and continue to cause a very serious amount of harm to Professional Football and fans. He is asked to refrain from the abovementioned conduct. Also, whatever necessary conversations should he held within the context of the RFEF/LNFP Coordination Agreement.

The National Professional Football League INVITES RFEF and AFE to maintain a constant, ongoing and fluid dialogue within the respective Coordination and Collective Agreements signed last summer with the aforementioned Institutions, without calling for the postponement of competitions and illegal strikes.