Spanish Football League (LFP) President Javier Tebas said at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in London that La Liga or Copa del Rey matches could be held outside Spain in the medium term, according to AS. Tebas: "In the short term it will not be possible. We still cannot say where these games will be played. We need to develop the projects, and of course the permission of international organizers like UEFA or FIFA is needed. And now FIFA is very occupied with corruption." Of the LFP's global strategy, Tebas also said, "In three or four years we will grow especially in Africa, due to the use of mobile phones." Speaking about the future of the LFP, Tebas said, "The Bundesliga is the most solvent league in the world. The Premier League is the one that earns the most with its TV rights. La Liga is the one that wins all the titles, but we would like to be the first in all three aspects, not just in sport. We are working on this" (AS, 10/7).
CHINESE CONNECTION: In Madrid, Javier Hernandez reported when Zhang Chengdong debuts with Rayo Vallecano in La Liga he will be "the first Chinese footballer to play in the Spanish competition." Although it is not "overtly perceptible, China is the country with the greatest presence" in La Liga, involved in "some way with almost all the clubs in the top tier." The coupling of China with La Liga "has mostly happened in the offices: clubs seek sponsors and the big Chinese brands need a shop window for their products." The Chinese have become patrons, partners and sponsors to La Liga sides and the teams that do not have income "streaming in from the East" are in the process of channeling it in, "courting potential suitors." There are "some fears of a new Suzerainty with all this Chinese money coming with conditions attached." The "most visible example" is Zhang, "a player brought in as a condition" for the return of a big int'l money transfer. Rayo coach Paco Jémez said, "A sponsor should never be allowed to bring a player into a team." In total 16 clubs have a "commercial relationship of some sort with Chinese individuals or entities; in some cases the relationship is even more lucrative than income from TV rights" (AS, 10/7).
VALENCIA SETS PRICE: In Madrid, Fernando Álvarez reported Valencia Marketing Dir Peter Draper, who joined the club over the summer, arrived with the objective of "multiplying the club's revenue with a policy of commercial expansion." But "not at any price." Draper explained that the club will not have a shirt sponsor unless a brand will pay at least €10M ($11.3M) per year. Draper: "It is a good price. We know that we have not been able to sell it yet, but we believe that this is an appropriate amount after a season in which this space was blank" (MARCA, 10/7). Also in Madrid, Conrado Valle reported Draper said that a "more sensitive, suitable and programmed" schedule would help Valencia expand its presence in Asia. He said that the current LFP schedule "makes it difficult" and "differs significantly from the Premier League." Draper: "On June 7 the EPL already had the entire calendar finalized, including times. In Spain it was done at the end of July and it changed. In November the EPL gives broadcasters a draft of the calendar for the next year so that they can commercialize it throughout the world" (AS, 10/7).
