Spanish Football League (LFP) President Javier Tebas does not "miss out on even the slightest opportunity to defend the controversial practice" of third-party ownership of players, which has been outlawed by FIFA and UEFA, according to Sergio Fernández of MARCA. Tebas has "even gone as far as taking his case to the European courts." When he found himself seated between UEFA Dir of Legal Affairs Alasdair Bell, and his former counterpart in the Premier League (where TPO is prohibited), David Richards, at the Financial Integrity & Transparency in Sport Forum, held in Geneva, Tebas said, "It is a form of funding which is legally accepted and is used across all industries. ... I understand that the Premier League is in favor of the ban, with the deals that the Premier League has secured, it boasts 20 out of the 25 richest clubs in the world. What chance do the smallest clubs have of holding on to their players? The prohibition of TPO is what is ruining the smallest leagues and their clubs. The only winner is the major league, the Premier League" (MARCA, 9/4).
REAL MADRID PLEDGES €1M: INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL's Andrew Warshaw reported Real Madrid "has become the latest side to join the drive to aid Europe-bound refugees" after announcing it will donate €1M ($1.12M) to help those arriving in Spain. The move follows a similar pledge made by Bayern Munich, which said it would "raise the same sum from a charity match, and would also set up a camp for refugees, providing accommodation, food, German lessons and football equipment to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the likes of war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as troubled countries in North Africa." Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke and other Bundesliga teams have "also pledged to donate funds," some setting up their own charity programs, with several offering refugee children a chance to join their football academies (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 9/6).
MAS SPEAKS OUT: MARCA reported Catalan President Artur Mas discussed Catalonia's bid for independence and its "possible repercussions on Spanish football." He was "categorical on the subject of whether Barça would still play in La Liga in the event of Catalan secession." Mas: "Spanish football can't afford not to have Real Madrid-Barcelona." The politician is convinced that the Clásico is La Liga's "greatest asset" and that the LFP would "not be foolish enough to turn its back on the 'Azulgranas' if Catalonia gained independence." He said, "Who would forgo having a team like Barça in their league? And why would you? Because you're angry? If you like football, how can you possibly forgo having the best team in the world in your league? I believe it's an issue that would be easily solved out of mutual interest" (MARCA, 9/7).
