Spanish football’s dispute over a new collective agreement has intensified after a court hearing was postponed and La Liga president Javier Tebas reignited controversy with comments invoking Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.
The National Court was due to hear a case involving the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) and La Liga, with the ruling potentially allowing negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement to begin this season.
However, the hearing was delayed because of a general strike called by the Futbolistas ON players’ union, which did not attend. The impasse leaves the agreement unresolved as relations between the two sides deteriorate.
The main dispute concerns which unions have the right to negotiate. In elections held in dressing rooms, AFE, led by David Aganzo, received the support of 93% of players. It argues that Spain’s Sports Law allows only unions receiving at least 10% of the vote to negotiate a new agreement with employers.
La Liga’s employers’ association also invited the union to take part, citing the previous agreement, which stated that a share of more than 5% was sufficient for participation in negotiations. AFE strongly objected and accused La Liga of “ignoring democracy”.
The new agreement is considered important for players’ working conditions. AFE wants rest periods between matches to be regulated, with players demanding a minimum of 72 hours between games. Negotiations are also expected to cover the possibility of staging a La Liga match outside Spain, particularly the controversial Miami plan.
A players’ protest against La Liga last season lasted only 10 seconds but led Relevent to suspend its Miami proposal. The decision represented a major setback for Tebas and further strained his relationship with Aganzo.
The employers’ association subsequently brought legal action against the players. The court ruled in the players’ favour, confirming they had not carried out a secret strike, as had been alleged.
Players are not currently considering a repeat of the strikes held in the past, but the relationship between the parties has reached a critical point, raising the prospect of a prolonged dispute that could affect the stability of the competition.
Meanwhile, Tebas has opened another front with comments about Goebbels, according to okdiario radio.
After Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke in an interview about fascist communication methods and the dehumanisation of political opponents, Tebas posted a video of the remarks on social media and wrote: “Someone should send the video of the Prime Minister talking about Goebbels’ methods to the Spanish Sports Council and Rodriguez Uribes. What an appalling comparison!”
The latest comments come while Tebas’s own future remains before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Spanish Sports Council brought a case against him in October last year after he compared Real Madrid’s media and television channels with Nazi propaganda methods.
Tebas could face a suspension under Article 76.4.b of the Sports Law, which classifies public actions that undermine dignity or sporting propriety as serious offences.
The simultaneous disputes highlight the fragile balance between players, administrators and clubs, and leave the current season facing a major test of whether the parties can resolve their differences through dialogue rather than legal and media escalation.
