LaLiga this Thursday presented the annual economic report for the 2021/22 season, in which Spanish professional football has practically regained pre-pandemic figures at the income level, with those who recorded the smallest overall losses. Total revenue amounted to 4,838.1 million euros, once again reaching the highest historical level of the 2019/20 season, after the sharp drop in the previous 2020/21 season, which reduced this record to under 4,000 million, now reaching a respectable annual level has growth of +22.6%.
“LaLiga will not open the tap for club losses, our model is one of sustainable growth. Constant losses like in the Premier League have a bad ending. Thanks to the self-regulation we have in place, there is no need to take any additional action. If we want bicentenary clubs, we have to continue with this sustainability plan,” defended Javier Tebas. In his speech, the president of the employers’ association emphasized the need to appreciate the management of Spanish professional football given the prime minister’s economic power. “This loss-making model has made English football unsustainable. I would like to know if the 180,000 jobs at risk are okay with that. This model is not wanted by the Spanish clubs. Almería is the club that could have put €300m and €400m into the First Division and inflated the market. This can plunge the sector into the abyss as it would force everyone to raise wages. This is an industry with great responsibility. Why did Spanish football owe the Treasury 700 million? Because there were people who put so much money into it until they stopped,” Tebas explained
Of the total revenues for the aforementioned 21-22 campaign, matchday play (+123%) saw the largest growth, which came from the return of crowds to stadiums. Commercial sales also increased (+2.9%) after the pandemic-related decline in the previous year. Revenue from player sales is still stagnant. As well as the expenses for transfers. “We will sell more, but it will not be enough to reach the numbers for other seasons. Barcelona will sell players for good amounts. His plan goes in that direction. There will be no investment fever in England because the English government will put the brakes on it. This is my opinion. It makes me feel like, except for Chelsea who went to the party, the rest won’t continue. The English government’s path as UEFA’s new financial fair play will make it more difficult,” predicted Tebas.
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With these total sales numbers, LaLiga reclaims second place in the big leagues. In terms of total expenditure, sports staff costs remain the largest item at 47%, although the weight of salary costs relative to the Net Business Figure (INCN) has fallen from 81.2% to 75.1% of total revenue 61.4% to 54.5%.
He The aggregated net result of the Spanish competition was 21/22. still in the red (-140.1m), but with a lower deficit than last year and also compared to the other major leagues. The Bundesliga in Germany suffered -205 million, the LFP in France -601 million, the Premier League + Championship around 1,005 million and the Serie A + B around -1,150 million.
The aggregated EBITDA of the Spanish competition, both before and after results from transfers of players, was again in positive territory (23.9 million and 280.8 million respectively).
According to Javier Gómez, LaLiga’s finance director, Spanish football will return to profitability around €29m by the end of this season. “Overall sales are back to cruising speed. The financial debt was maintained despite the investments. With productive investments (430 million euros), they stay in this line and this will have a return that increases income,” concluded Gómez.
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