Tebas: "In a Catalan league Barcelona would stop being a big club in Europe"

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, has reiterated that the time of the Barcelona-UD Las Palmas, scheduled for 16:15 on 1 October, will not be changed “because of unlawfulness”, referring to the referendum called by the Catalan Government on that date.

Tebas explained that the Constitutional Court had declared the referendum illegal and that “it is a game week on a normal day. If it’s for security reasons, I will have to listen to the security forces, but unless it’s requested by the Government of Spain, nothing will be changed,” Tebas explained at the presentation of the “Football Transfer Review” from Primer Time Sport.

Tebas added that if Catalonia does become independent, Catalan clubs will no longer be able to play in Spanish competitions. “If the process advances, and we hope it doesn’t, Catalan clubs won’t be able play in La Liga. If there is a unilateral process, and if they leave the EU, Catalan clubs won’t be able to play in La Liga,” Tebas said.

Tebas added he was “worried” about how Catalan clubs would cope with this situation. “I think the Catalan league would be like the Dutch league and that, in terms of television rights, TV3 won’t be able to pay what they get now. Barcelona would stop being a big club in Europe,” he claimed.