TAD File and the Shadow of FC Barcelona

Thebas in the Eye of the Hurricane: TAD File and the Shadow of FC Barcelona

The president of LaLiga, under scrutiny for alleged breach of the duty of neutrality, faces a possible sanction that could go up to dismissal.

The future of Javier Tebas at the head of LaLiga hangs by a thread. The Administrative Court of Sports (TAD) has opened a disciplinary file against the top leader of Spanish professional football, a decision that emanates from a complaint filed by Miguel Galán, president of CENAFE, and raised by the Higher Sports Council (CSD) on October 20.

The root of the conflict dates back to August of last year, when Galán wrote to the CSD, and its president, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes. In it, he requested the imposition of a dismissal sanction for Tebas, arguing the commission of five very serious infractions classified in article 76.2.a) of the Sports Law, related to non-compliance with the duty of neutrality.

According to the CENAFE complaint, Javier Tebas would have violated the confidentiality of sensitive information related to FC Barcelona. The first alleged infraction materialized on April 2, when LaLiga communicated the non-authorization of a financial operation by the culé club. The controversy intensified with the subsequent withdrawal of said information from the official website, after complaints from the Barça team.

The third accusation points to a meeting held by Tebas with Athletic Club de Bilbao, in the context of the possible payment of Nico Williams' clause. In this meeting, the Basque club would have consulted on the financial situation of FC Barcelona, a topic that, according to the complaint, should not have been the subject of discussion by the president of LaLiga.

The fourth alleged infraction is based on public statements by Tebas to the media, in which he reported on the impossibility of FC Barcelona to comply with the 1-1 rule in Financial Fair Play. Finally, the fifth and last accusation refers to the confidentiality of a letter sent to the CSD on March 28, in relation to Dani Olmo's contractual conflict.

The file opened by the TAD could have severe consequences for Tebas. The possible sanctions contemplated in the Sports Law range from a reprimand to disqualification for a period of between two months and one year, and even, in the most drastic scenario, dismissal from office.

Sources close to the investigation have reported that the president of LaLiga has not yet received the official statement of objections from the TAD, an essential document to be able to present his allegations and defend himself against the accusations. Curiously, the CSD, in the previous investigation process, did not request the opinion of FC Barcelona before submitting the complaint to the court.

In an unexpected turn, Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, recently appeared before the TAD to express his opposition to the file. Laporta would have conveyed to the court that the Barça club has not suffered any damage resulting from Tebas' actions, a position that could influence the resolution of the case.

The TAD has a period of three months to resolve these types of files. The court's inaction within this period is considered administrative silence, but in this case, the resolution is mandatory, even if the deadline is exceeded. The complexity of the case and the need for Tebas to exercise its right to defense could extend the process.

It is expected that the final resolution will not be known before June, which could imply the opening of a new file if the current one cannot be resolved in time. The outcome of this case will have important repercussions on the governance of Spanish football and the relationship between clubs and governing bodies.