La Liga side Espanyol President Joan Collet has "hit out at the uneven split of TV money in Spanish football," according to Mari Carmen Torres of MARCA. Collet said, "Any team in the Premier League can sign your best player by doubling their salary. That's what's happening to us and it will keep happening if this situation isn't sorted out." Collet was speaking the day after the Premier League announced a bumper new TV deal and "mooted the possibility of clubs going on strike if nothing changes in Spain." He said, "We're willing to bring La Liga to a halt through the LFP [the Spanish football league] if a decree isn't issued about the regularization of TV rights. If they don't get their act together, we're willing to do it. There's always some politician who calls up and puts a spanner in the works. The Spanish government's ability to make fools of themselves knows no bounds" (MARCA, 2/11). ESPN's Dermot Corrigan reported Atlético Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has called for Spain's government to "finally pass legislation that would see La Liga TV rights money shared more equally." New proposed legislation, which was announced "more than two years ago but has yet to be signed into law, aims to introduce greater balance, although the precise details have not been publicly confirmed." Gil Marin: "The main unresolved current issue in our sector regards the construction of a strong, competitive and fair league brand. To do this, modifying the current system of selling and distribution of TV rights is required. The government -- through the secretary of state for sport -- committed in different moments, and in different forums, to implement during 2014 new legislation which will regulate the collective sale of TV rights. They have not done this. I am aware of pressures received on the part of all those agents who want to have control the day after the legislation, but it is the obligation of the government to uphold the general interest of the fans, the viability of the clubs, and the competitiveness of our league" (ESPN, 2/10).
