The Supreme Court of Spain has ruled in favor of La Liga in a dispute with Real Madrid and Barcelona over the commercial rights to the term “El Clásico.” The two clubs had attempted to claim exclusive rights to the name, which refers to their famous rivalry, one of the most important matches in world soccer. However, the court upheld La Liga’s prior registration of the trademark “ELCLÁSICO” with the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office in May 2023. As a result, La Liga now holds the sole commercial rights to the term, effectively negating the clubs’ claims to exclusivity.
La Liga’s Ongoing Power Struggle With Barcelona And Real Madrid
The judicial decision represents a new development in the continuous conflict for influence between La Liga and its two most powerful member clubs, Barca and Real Madrid. Since La Liga president Javier Tebas assumed his position in 2013, disagreements regarding commercial rights, such as the allocation of revenue and broadcasting rules, have been frequent. A major reform implemented by Tebas was the adoption of a collective system for selling television rights, a shift from the prior practice where each club independently negotiated its own broadcasting agreements. Although this change has resulted in higher overall revenue for Spanish football, Real Madrid, specifically, has expressed discontent, contending that selling individual matches separately would generate greater profits.
Real Madrid’s Continued Discontent With La Liga’s Broadcasting Policies
Real Madrid has declined to fully participate in certain recent broadcasting policies implemented by La Liga, including the introduction of cameras into the team’s dressing room prior to matches and the conducting of player interviews during halftime breaks. This decision to opt-out of these optional media engagements has resulted in a financial penalty for the club, with approximately €13 million (£10.75 million) in television revenue being withheld each year. During the 2023-24 season, La Liga earned a total of €1.49 billion in television rights, with Barca receiving the largest distribution at €162.49 million, followed closely by Real Madrid at €159.55 million, even though the latter secured the league championship. Both Madrid and Barca retain the right to contest this most recent ruling by filing an appeal.
