La Liga President Tebas Calls for Stronger Action Against Football Broadcast Piracy

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, has underscored the urgent need to combat football piracy, highlighting the serious threat that illegal television platforms pose to the economic system of football. Tebas made these remarks on November 20 during the Olé Summit Argentina 2025 in Buenos Aires, emphasizing that if piracy is not addressed, it could jeopardize the financial stability of the sport.

Tebas's statements spotlight ongoing challenges faced by football leagues globally, particularly La Liga, in protecting their revenue streams from unauthorized broadcasts. While football piracy is a widespread issue, his remarks indicate its critical impact on Spain's flagship football competition.

This focus on piracy comes amid heightened tensions in Argentina, where Tebas also criticized the state of Argentine football, expressing sorrow that the country with its strong passion and fan base lacks clubs capable of becoming a global powerhouse. His comments provoked a sharp response from Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), who defended the competitiveness and historical significance of Argentine football and rejected Tebas's criticism as disrespectful.

Though the controversy between La Liga and AFA has drawn media attention, Tebas’s primary concern remains on protecting the financial health of Spanish football by tackling the scourge of illegal streaming. His call for decisive measures against piracy reflects La Liga’s commitment to safeguarding its economic model in face of evolving digital threats.