La Liga President sends warning to PL over spending – ‘I agree with Lewandowski’

La Liga President Javier Tebas has warned that the Premier League’s current rate of investment cannot continue at the current rate, and rejected the idea that Spanish football should be concerned over the widening financial gap between the two leagues.

On Friday, La Liga announced their updated salary limits for the clubs in Segunda and La Liga, with a significant downturn for Barcelona, and a major rise for Espanyol. Another of the topics was the vast difference in spending between the Premier League and La Liga. The Spanish league had a net spend of just €28m over the summer transfer window, compared to the €1b from the Premier League.

Asked about the difference, Tebas explained that he agreed with Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, who in a recent interview suggested that the Premier League spends big, but doesn’t necessarily get value for money.

“I think I agree with Lewandowski – they pay a lot for players that have played six games, that haven’t done anything. If you look at the Ballon d’Ors for example, I think it’s 12 of the last 15 have come from La Liga.”

“It doesn’t worry us. It inflates the market no doubt, but over the years, if you look at European competitions too, La Liga has been doing just as well as the Premier League, if not better. Of course there will be the odd year here or there that is the exception. The Premier League surpasses La Liga in terms of debt and capital, but outside of that, we’re happy.”

Continuing on to answer further questions about the increasing gap in spend between La Liga and their English counterparts, Tebas continued to espouse the view he has put forward in recent years; the Premier League spending bubble will burst. He cited recent moves by the Government to curb the spending, referencing the Profit and Loss Regulations.

“The difference has increased, because their turnover has gone from 1.4 to 1.8 -but what can we do. Is it reckless? Well my question for you would be why has the government implemented a regulatory system? It’s not because they felt like it. There’s a reason behind it. I think England will end up putting in more controls. They can’t be in a constant cycle of losses as they have in recent years. This is not just Javier Tebas saying it, it’s the English parliament, the regulator. They can’t be losing a billion pounds every year.”

Meanwhile Getafe President Angel Torres stated this summer that La Liga was the laughing stock of Europe due to its spending rules. He blamed the club’s salary limit for having to sell Omar Alderete and Christantus Uche to Sunderland and Crystal Palace respectively in order to register players. La Liga CEO Javier Gomez responded to the idea.

“If the clubs were earning the money, they can spend it. If they earn €800m euros, then they can spend it. But if they break even or make a minor loss or profit, then they can’t go out and spend big. When some of the clubs are making complaints about the salary limit, and they’re in negotiations and they’re trying to sell, which is a factor, it’s understandable,” he explained to the assembled press.

“In terms of changes, we’re trying to add more flexibility, it means that maybe we allow a little bit more spending this year, but next year we’ll control you a little more. Ultimately, the clubs are the ones that can change the rules, they can vote on it, but when they do the analysis in the cold light of day, then this is the conclusion they reach.”

Recently it has been reported that the deal taking Uche to Palace is in fact a loan move with an option to buy. Tebas sought to provide a thesis on the matter.

“There are ways of putting in conditions for these options, and for guaranteeing some of the fee. For us, in terms of the salary limit, we ask whether they can be assured of the income? For example, if Getafe are due X million if Uche plays three games. The Premier League also allows the option to buy, which is now a way of playing with the regulations. The Premier League’s interpretation of the rules is much more lax.