Spanish Football Clubs Reportedly Owe Tax Authorities $670M-Plus

As of Aug. 31, Spanish football "had a total debt with Spain's tax authorities" of more than €542M ($670M), according to Mateo & Manetto of EL PAIS. The total number of clubs from La Liga, the second division and the third division that were in bankruptcy was 27, and "a total of 19 had reached agreements to delay payments." This presents a difference of €110M ($136M) from the total of €432M ($534M) that the Spanish Football League said on Sept. 20 was the sum owed by La Liga and second division clubs -- not counting Osasuna and Real Sociedad. Spain's tax authorities have for months been "assuring that the LFP's calculations are incorrect." Spanish tax authorities sources said that only Spain's Internal Revenue Service "knows exactly what the total debt is, but assured that the numbers from the LFP 'are not real.'" A "request for comment from the LFP did not receive a response" (EL PAIS, 12/3).