FOOTBALL – The Middle East holds a central position in the Spanish football league’s international strategy, with Bahrain emerging as a key stop in strengthening ties with regional partners, said La Liga president Javier Tebas.
Tebas told BNA that his visit to Manama reflects La Liga’s commitment to expanding its presence, exchanging expertise, and exploring new opportunities with local and regional stakeholders.
Tebas praised the passion of football fans in Bahrain and the wider region, describing them as an integral part of the La Liga family.
“We see our fans in the Middle East as an inseparable part of the La Liga family. We truly recognise their passion for Spanish football, and we are committed to making them feel close to the clubs they love,” he said.
Tebas stressed that the league is working to ensure they enjoy fair, safe, and content-rich experiences that bring them closer to their favourite clubs.
Speaking about La Liga’s outlook for the Middle East, Tebas highlighted two priorities: the sheer size and enthusiasm of the fan base, particularly for Real Madrid and Barcelona, and the league’s fight against broadcast piracy.
He explained that while many fans pay legally to watch matches, piracy remains an unfair challenge. For this reason, La Liga has intensified efforts to protect broadcasting rights.
Furthermore, he said cooperation agreements have been signed with leagues in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, which are developing impressive youth academies and grassroots projects.
He stressed that La Liga values the exchange of expertise as a two-way process, aiming not only to share its own knowledge but also to learn from successful experiences in the region.
He added that the ultimate ambition is for La Liga’s presence in the Middle East to be both influential and enduring.
Tebas also addressed the ongoing debate about staging La Liga matches outside Spain.
He dismissed concerns, clarifying that the idea is not to relocate the entire league but to host a single match each season abroad.
Such a move, he explained, would be a tribute and a gesture of respect toward fans who devote significant effort to follow their teams and deserve to see them live at least once.
Drawing parallels with competitions like the Spanish and Italian Super Cups, which have already been played abroad, Tebas said there is no reason fans in the Middle East, Latin America, or the United States should not have a similar opportunity.
On refereeing, often a contentious subject in Spanish football, Tebas underlined the reforms now being implemented under the new leadership of the Spanish Football Federation.
Central to these reforms is the integration of artificial intelligence into referee selection, performance evaluation, and the analysis of controversial incidents.
AI, he noted, is becoming indispensable in ensuring fairness and consistency.
He also pointed to a pilot programme in Spain’s third division, where coaches are allowed to request VAR reviews. This has already reduced delays and criticism, and if successful, it will be extended to higher divisions.
Tebas concluded by expressing confidence that the coming period will witness stronger co-operation and deeper connections with the region.
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