Javier Tebas Resigns as La Liga President with Eye on Fourth Term

In a strategic move, Javier Tebas steps down from his ten-year tenure as La Liga president to expedite his re-election bid in the upcoming elections scheduled before December 21st. Tebas, the sole candidate for succession, aims for a fourth consecutive term, leveraging his resignation for a quicker return to office.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has officially resigned, a move anticipated as his four-year term was set to conclude on December 23. The decision aligns with Tebas’s plan to trigger new elections and secure a fourth term as president. The expedited process, taking approximately one month, is strategically timed to avoid conflicting with the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s presidential elections in the first trimester of 2024.

Announcing his resignation on social media, Tebas stated, “A few minutes ago I presented my resignation as President of @LaLiga prior to the end of my term, which is expected to end on December 23. A new electoral process will open in which I will present myself, so I will request the endorsement and trust of the clubs to take on the challenges at hand.”

Tebas, 61, is poised to face little competition, enjoying substantial support from the presidents of clubs in the Spanish first and second divisions. His track record includes running unopposed in the 2013 and 2019 elections.

Known for fortifying the finances of La Liga teams and advocating for economic parity with the Premier League, Tebas has also worked to enhance the league’s global visibility. His efforts include securing long-term broadcasting agreements with ESPN for game coverage in the United States.

In addition, Javier Tebas has been a vocal critic of football giants Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, condemning their financial clout and accusing “state-owned football clubs” of violating UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

While some will see this as a democratic process, there are many who will question what the difference is from a dictatorship where one person always holds power.

Gilles Noubissi contributed to this story