By ADAM TROXTELL
The next TV deal for La Liga clubs will be a little different for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Instead of the two biggest clubs negotiating their own deals, the Spanish government has allowed a new method in which the money from broadcast rights is spread more evenly among La Liga’s 20 teams.
“A new league is born,” La Liga president Javier Tebas said. “This was necessary for the development and growth of our sector. A new story begins for Spanish professional football.”
Under the new terms, 50 percent of the broadcast deal is split evenly between all of the teams. The remaining 50 percent is dolled out based on certain criteria, such as where a team finished in the previous years’ standings, the ability of club’s to draw in broadcasting dollars, and social relevance.
While Barcelona and Real Madrid will still get more money than the other teams, the deal is designed to scale back from its reported $168 million per year, which was three times as much as other La Liga clubs earned.
Here are some more news and notes for your Thursday evening:
STURRIDGE TO RETURN TO U.S. FOR TREATMENT
It may be a while longer before Liverpool fans see Daniel Sturridge return to the pitch.
The striker’s injury-ridden season hit another sour note on Thursday, when it was confirmed he will return to the U.S. to treat a hip problem. Sturridge will work with treatment officials with the Boston Red Sox to try and completely alleviate the issue.
Sturridge has already visited Boston and Los Angeles to deal with a thigh problem this season. He was forced to leave the FA Cup semifinal with his latest injury, and it reportedly may require surgery.
The hip problem may force Sturridge out for the rest of the season.
POGBA WILL NOT BE BACK FOR REAL-JUVE CLASH
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is not expected to return from injury in time to face Real Madrid in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg.
Pogba is recovering from a torn thigh muscle. While a club statement on Thursday said that an MRI showed progress on the midfielder’s injury, he is not expected to start full training until Wednesday. Juventus hosts Los Blancos in the first leg on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old has not featured for Juventus since he had to exit the Champions League round of 16 second leg victory against Borussia Dortmund in the 27th minute.
ARSENAL BAN YOUNG PLAYER’S MOTHER
Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ mother has been banned by his club, Arsenal, after she reportedly had a fight with a club executive and threatened to pull him off of a recent Under-21s match.
Arsenal officials called police on Jule Niles on two occasions within the last month. The first incident occurred at the training ground, where Niles had agreed to meet club executive Dick Law and Maitland-Niles’ agent on the progress of her son.
A fight reportedly ensued, with Law and the agent suffering minor injuries. She was arrested for assault, no charges were filed, but Nile was banned from the training ground.
She then attended Arsenal Under-21’s game against Aston Villa on April 24, where she is alleged to have shouted at coaching staff and threatened to pull her son from the field. Police were called again, and Nile was given a warning.
Maitland-Niles, 17, is a promising young player with Arsenal. He made his club debut against Galatasaray in a Champions League game last December.
What do you think of the new La Liga broadcast deal? Do Daniel Sturridge’s injury concerns mean a striker is Liverpool’s top summer transfer priority?
Share your thoughts below.
I can see TV audience numbers as a possible justification fir bigger shares of the Spanish TV money. But where you finished in the standings? Just another way of keeping the same clubs on top. And “social relevance”? Let’s see how the top clubs can do with real competition.
yeah, at first glance, this looks awesome. however, there’s a whole lot of wiggle room in there. why do you even need an amount for “social relevance” when you’re already accounting for tv numbers?
anyway, even splitting the 50% they are is a vast improvement, so i’m happy to see it. hopefully it’s an indication of more parity down the road.
Yeah, there’s probably some wackiness in there but this should be more equitable. That said, I don’t think it’s unfair for Barca and RM to get more of the TV money because they are the main reasons why broadcasters are willing to pay such high fees.
That poor lil’ gunner.
seriously. and i thought my mom embarrassed me at games.
Yes, by the time players reach 10 the parents begin to learn to be quiet and by 16 it is usually the players, not the parents, who talk themselves into trouble. She cannot be helping him in the eyes of the coaches
about time they looked at spanish deal. far too unfair in recent years. perhaps not a step far enough even, but at least its something. barca and real use scummy tactics, players tapping up targets in the media, far too much money so they can back it up aswell. about time for a change.