LaLiga president promises to eliminate sports piracy

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has declared revenue goals for the top division of Spanish football’s next rights package and said it will stage matches outside its home market in the next two seasons, as UK rights-holder Sky is reportedly facing renewed pressure to retain its long-running contract.

Tebas has said LaLiga expects to earn €2.3bn ($2.9bn) per season from its media rights within three seasons. LaLiga currently generates around €1bn per season for its domestic rights, and a further €650m per season from its international rights. Tebas said new contracts should bring in about €1.3bn per season for domestic rights and €1bn per season internationally, if negotiations progress smoothly.

Tebas also said piracy poses a bigger threat than the commercial power of the English Premier League. He added: “We lose about €500m a year (to piracy). The Premier League begins to affect you, but not at our level. The problem of piracy is going to be reduced. We have already dropped it by six per cent. It is a long-term struggle. In 10 years we are going to eliminate it.”