Spanish Supreme Court Rejects La Liga Appeal, Sides with Real Madrid and Barcelona

The Spanish Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed by La Liga against a Madrid Regional Court ruling that favored Real Madrid and Barcelona. This decision effectively invalidates measures taken by La Liga president Javier Tebas, which had previously prevented the two clubs from participating in the management of audiovisual rights.

The Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court, in its ruling No. 547/2026, concluded that La Liga's appeal lacked effective utility. The court noted that Tebas had personally handled the clubs' request for recusal, thereby acting as both an adversary and a judge simultaneously. The roots of the case trace back to administrative decisions made by the organizing body on March 1, April 12, and May 19, 2022.

La Liga, for its part, clarified that its appeal was based on violations related to conflicts of interest. The league stated: "La Liga's appeal was built on two grounds: the first relates to the alleged violation of Article 7.4 of Royal Decree-Law 5/2015 concerning conflicts of interest, and the second is the non-application of the doctrine of the reasonable rule." The institution, chaired by Tebas, further added in its clarification that the Supreme Court did not delve into the legal merits, stating: "Contrary to published information, it is appropriate to specify that the Supreme Court did not question the legal grounds defended by La Liga; rather, the rejection of the appeal was exclusively due to the lack of effective utility." La Liga concluded its statement by confirming it would continue to study the next steps.

In light of these legal developments, La Liga is currently analyzing the appropriate procedural paths it can take following the Supreme Court's ruling. The body reiterates its disagreement with the premise suggesting that its appeal did not address the president's right to make those decisions or the necessity of a neutral third party to resolve existing disputes between the parties.