{{short description|Spanish lawyer}} {{family name hatnote|Tebas|Medrano|lang=Spanish}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Javier Tebas | image = FOTO JAVIER TEBAS 2024.jpg | caption = Tebas in 2024 | order = | office = President of [[Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional]] | term_start = 26 April 2013 | term_end = | predecessor = [[José Luis Astiazarán]] | successor = | birth_name = Xavier Tebas Medrano<ref name=Xavi/> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1962|7|31}} | birth_place = [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], Costa Rica | education = [[University of Zaragoza]] }} '''Xavier Tebas Medrano''',<ref name="XaviYouTube"/><ref name=Xavi/> better known as '''Javier Tebas''' ({{IPA|es|xaˈβjeɾ ˈteβas}}; born 31 July 1962), is a Spanish lawyer and the president of [[Liga de Fútbol Profesional|Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional]], the association responsible for administering Spain's two highest-tier professional [[Association football|football]] leagues. First elected in April 2013, he was re-elected for a fourth term in December 2023 until 2027.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libertaddigital.com/deportes/liga/2023-12-12/laliga-reelige-a-javier-tebas-como-presidente-para-su-cuarto-mandato-7078853/|title=LaLiga reelige a Javier Tebas como presidente para su cuarto mandato|date=12 December 2023|website=Libertad Digital|language=es|access-date=25 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://as.com/futbol/primera/tebas-reelegido-presidente-de-laliga-de-forma-definitiva-n/#tooltip1|title=Tebas es reelegido como presidente de LaLiga de forma definitiva|date=12 December 2023|website=As.com|language=es|access-date=25 February 2024}}</ref> Tebas has promised that this will be his last term, ending in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/primera-division/2023/12/14/657af43e268e3e942e8b45c7.html|title=Los objetivos de Javier Tebas en su último mandato al frente de LaLiga|date=14 December 2023|website=Marca.com|language=es|access-date=25 February 2024}}</ref>
Tebas is a supporter of the right wing [[Spanish nationalism|Spanish]] [[Vox (Spanish political party)|Vox]] party.<ref name="Espana">{{cite news|url= http://www.football-espana.net/48068/javier-tebas-man-plan| title= Javier Tebas: The man with a plan?| last=Nunn| first=Garreth| work=Football Espana| date=16 January 2015|access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>
==Biography== ===Early life=== Born in Costa Rica, Tebas moved to Spain with his family at the age of 4.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/revista-dominical/entrevista-con-javier-tebas-costa-rica-sera-una-prioridad/WNQBBD4IQZF6XMTCMFTU5ACZ6Q/story/|title=Entrevista con Javier Tebas: 'Costa Rica será una prioridad'|date=5 May 2013|website=La Nación}}</ref> He came from a [[Catholic]] family in [[Huesca]]: his father was a soldier and his mother, a psychologist and pedagogue, Gloria Medrano Mir, was a professor at the [[University of Zaragoza]].<ref>{{Cite web| title=Aprender jugando y juguete adecuado | url=https://archivos.csif.es/archivos/andalucia/ensenanza/revistas/csicsif/revista/pdf/Numero_38/NATALIA_MARTINEZ_URBANO_01.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812184017/https://archivos.csif.es/archivos/andalucia/ensenanza/revistas/csicsif/revista/pdf/Numero_38/NATALIA_MARTINEZ_URBANO_01.pdf | archive-date=2021-08-12}}</ref> During [[La Vanguardia]]'s Forum "Defense of the European Football Ecosystem" in March 2023, when asked by the moderator of the debate to Javier Tebas if his real and official name is "Xavier" in Catalan, Tebas answered yes. He said that his whole family called him Xavi and that at school they also called him "Xavi".<ref name="XaviYouTube">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55as3LmEg2g&t=5938s|title=La intervención completa de Javier Tebas en el Foros de Vanguardia|date=16 March 2023|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref name=Xavi>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/laliga/tebas-desvela-nombre-real-xavi-84758770|title=¡Tebas desvela que su nombre real es Xavi!|date=16 March 2023|website=www.sport.es}}</ref> Tebas studied [[law]] at the [[University of Zaragoza]]. During his student days, he was a provincial delegate of the [[Fuerza Nueva]], a far-right Spanish party founded during the final years of [[Francisco Franco|Franco]]'s regime.<ref name="Espana"/> In January 2019, Tebas publicly stated his support for the [[Vox (Spanish political party)|Vox]] party, which is generally described as right-wing or far-right by various analysts.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/la-liga-javier-tebas-vox-andalucia-partido-a8732291.html|title='I will vote for them': La Liga president backs far-right party Vox|first=Ed|last=Malyon|date=17 January 2019|work=The Independent}}</ref> He grew up as a fan of [[Real Madrid CF in international football|Real Madrid]], but has stated that his support for does not impact his role as La Liga president.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/real-madrid/12000271/La-Liga-president-Javier-Tebas-supports-Barcelona.html| title= La Liga president Javier Tebas supports Barcelona| last=Bull| first=JJ| work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]| date=17 November 2015|access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="SB">{{cite news |last=Mazariegos |first=Luiz |date=1 March 2016 |title=La Liga President Javier Tebas: "Clubs of independent Catalonia cannot play in the league" |work=[[SB Nation]] |url=http://www.barcablaugranes.com/2016/3/1/11138978/la-liga-president-javier-tebas-clubs-of-an-independent-catalonia |access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref>
==Career== His expertise in business, sports and bankruptcy law was decisive in advising and representing numerous football clubs throughout his career and in creating a law firm specializing in the world of sport.<ref>{{Cite web|last=lsanchez|date=16 November 2011|title=Javier Tebas, abogado, experto en derecho concursal deportivo:"En nuestro deporte profesional ha llegado el momento de generar un debate a fondo serio sobre el derecho a la información "|url=https://www.diariojuridico.com/javier-tebas-abogado-experto-en-derecho-concursal-deportivoen-nuestro-deporte-profesional-ha-llegado-el-momento-de-generar-un-debate-a-fondo-serio-sobre-el-derecho-a-la-informacion/|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Diario Jurídico|language=es}}</ref>
Tebas has worked for eleven [[La Liga]] clubs, with his first role being president of [[SD Huesca]] in 1993.<ref name="LIS">{{cite web|url=http://www.leadersinsport.com/_about.cfm?pid=136 |title=Javier Tebas |publisher=Leaders in Sport |access-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324030059/http://www.leadersinsport.com/_about.cfm?pid=136 |archive-date=24 March 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Espana"/> He served three terms as the vice-president of Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional,<ref name="LIS" /> being elected for the first time in 2001, and also worked for the G30 group of clubs, where he helped the clubs negotiate their television deals.<ref name="LIS" /><ref name="Espana" /><ref>{{cite news|url= http://elpais.com/diario/2003/08/22/deportes/1061503202_850215.html| title=El G-30 insiste en su plante| last=Sanz| first=Óscar| work=[[El País]]| date=22 August 2003|access-date=21 May 2016|language=es}}</ref>
===President of La Liga===
In 2013, Tebas was appointed the president of La Liga after an uncontested election in which he was supported by 32 of the 42 La Liga and [[Segunda División]] clubs.<ref name="Espana"/> Prior to the election, Tebas had promised to clean up the Spanish game after [[match-fixing]] allegations, and also to make match tickets affordable.<ref name="LIS"/><ref name="Espana"/><ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/liga-bbva/javier-tebas-presentara-presidencia-liga-futbol-profesional-2319343| title= Javier Tebas se presentará a la presidencia de la Liga de Fútbol Profesional| work=[[Sport (Spanish newspaper)|Sport]]| date=15 February 2013| access-date=21 May 2016| language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.libertaddigital.com/deportes/futbol/2013-04-26/javier-tebas-proclamado-definitivamente-como-nuevo-presidente-de-la-liga-1276488623/| title= Javier Tebas, proclamado definitivamente como nuevo presidente de la Liga| work=[[Libertad Digital]]| date=26 April 2013| access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref>
The arrival of Javier Tebas as president introduced multiple reforms to La Liga, particularly in financial restructuring and broadcasting rights. Among the key initiatives to have been introduced since he took the role of vice president (and later president) are: economic restructuring of the clubs and financing of La Liga,<ref name="Expansión.com-2017">{{Cite web|date=3 February 2017|title=Así están las finanzas del fútbol español: ingresos récord y deuda en mínimos|url=https://www.expansion.com/directivos/deporte-negocio/2017/02/03/589473e4e2704e7f678b45ad.html|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Expansión.com|language=es}}</ref> achieved by the centralised sale of television broadcasting rights;<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 December 2018|title=Javier Tebas: "El reparto más equitativo de los derechos de TV hace que LaLiga sea más competitiva"|url=https://www.elespanol.com/invertia/empresas/20181202/javier-tebas-psoe-podemos-impuestos-futbolistas-laliga/357215606_0.html|access-date=27 October 2020|website=El Español|language=es-ES}}</ref> tough measures against match-fixing;<ref>{{Cite web|title="Anyone guilty of match fixing will end up in jail"|url=https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/news/anyone-guilty-of-match-fixing-will-end-up-in-jail|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Anyone guilty of match fixing will end up in jail|language=en}}</ref> establishing policies to tackle violence or abuse in the stadiums;<ref>{{Cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=26 January 2020|title=La Liga unveils action plan in response to racist and violent incidents|language=es|work=Reuters|url=https://es.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-spain-violence-idUKKBN1ZP0TC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031005545/https://es.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-spain-violence-idUKKBN1ZP0TC|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 October 2020|access-date=27 October 2020}}</ref> and digitalization and multimedia development that allows fans to interact with the clubs across multiple channels.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sánchez|first=Ángel Húguez|title=Tecnología al servicio de la pasión por LaLiga|url=https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/deportes/Tecnologia-al-servicio-de-la-pasion-por-LaLiga-20200304-0124.html|access-date=27 October 2020|website=El Economista|date=5 March 2020 }}</ref>
Regarding the centralized sale of television rights, this was a process that was achieved following the formation of the G-30, a group of clubs that united for the sale of their television rights, of which Javier Tebas was one of the main promoters. Since 2003, Tebas has taken a stance in favor of the centralized sale of television rights through La Liga. Under Tebas' leadership, revenue distribution among clubs became more balanced, with smaller clubs reportedly receiving a larger share of TV rights income than before.<ref name="Espana" />
Another of his achievements within La Liga has been the financial restructuring of the clubs. The large amounts of debt the football clubs had, led to the members themselves, the clubs, to self-impose strict economic and financial control measures that would be applied by La Liga. For this task, Tebas called upon Javier Gomez, former vice president of [[Valencia CF|Valencia]], appointing him as his second in command and managing director with the responsibility of enforcing the new internal regulations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 May 2013|title=Javier Gómez, nombrado nuevo director general de la LFP|url=https://as.com/futbol/2013/05/10/primera/1368205250_112600.html|access-date=27 October 2020|website=AS.com|language=es}}</ref>
Following the implementation of economic control from 2013 onwards, La Liga reported that during the first four years of Tebas's tenure, debts to the treasury were reduced by 71% (from €647 million to €184 million) and total revenues increased by 48% (from €2.236 million to €3.327 million) in June 2017.<ref name="Expansión.com-2017" />
In this regard, former football player and coach [[Jorge Valdano]] said of him:<blockquote>"Although we differ ideologically, I will say that Tebas did more for Spanish football than all his critics combined. Whatever his future holds, he won't go backwards, because his style is to be on front line. Since his arrival, LaLiga has become richer, more democratic in its distribution of money, more rigorous with its contracts, more professional in how it stages matches and more respectful of its sense of identity. No one did more or risked more to make sure LaLiga could reach these ends".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Valdano|first=Jorge|date=2020-07-31|title=Tebas y el señor Lobo|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2020-07-31/tebas-y-el-senor-lobo.html|access-date=2020-10-27|website=EL PAÍS|language=es}}</ref></blockquote>
The centralized management of audiovisual rights led to revenue growth for La Liga clubs, with reports indicating an X% increase in broadcasting income over X years.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} In order to increase its television audience, match schedules were adapted so that the games did not coincide with each other and could each have a distinct kick-off time; these measures were applauded internationally but drew criticism among Spanish viewers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 January 2019|title=Mendizorroza clama contra Tebas y los inhóspitos horarios de la Liga|url=https://alaves.elcorreo.com/cinco-minutos-tarde-20190128204106-nt.html|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Alaves - El Correo|language=es}}</ref>
At the Business Football Summit in February 2026, he sharply criticized [[Nasser Al-Khelaifi|Nasser Al-Khelaïfi]] and the financial management of [[Paris Saint-Germain FC|Paris Saint-Germain]], alleging a lack of transparency and calling for harmonized European regulation of club finances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=read |first=Foot Africa·2 min |date=2026-02-27 |title=Tebas vs Al-Khelaifi: La Liga president attacks PSG Chief over French Football crisis |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/tebas-vs-al-khelaifi-la-044500188.html |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalleres |first=Frank |date=2026-02-26 |title=LaLiga boss Tebas reignites war with Paris Saint-Germain chief Al-Khelaifi |url=https://www.cityam.com/laliga-boss-tebas-reignites-war-with-paris-saint-germain-chief-al-khelaifi/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Controversies== During his tenure, Tebas has said that Spanish league matches could be held outside of Spain in places such as the [[United States]], following the path of leagues such as the US-based [[National Football League]], [[National Basketball Association]], [[Major League Baseball]], and [[National Hockey League]] in playing regular season matches abroad. The plans are to hold one match per season outside of Spain, and Tebas has said that [[El Clásico]] would not be one of the matches selected.<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/la-liga-president-javier-tebas-6855872| title= La Liga president Javier Tebas admits Spanish league games could be played abroad| last=Malyon| first=Ed| work=[[Daily Mirror]]| date=18 November 2015| access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref> La Liga's attempts to organize and hold a match in Miami<ref>{{Cite web|last=Calderón|first=David|title=Web oficial del Villarreal CF - Comunicado oficial|url=https://www.villarrealcf.es/noticias/todas-las-noticias/item/25775-comunicado-oficial-villarreal-atletico-miami|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Web oficial del Villarreal CF|language=es-es}}</ref> have so far been stopped by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), who are against it.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 January 2020|title=La Liga insiste con Miami y mira a la NBA|url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/abci-liga-insiste-miami-y-mira-nba-202001260109_noticia.html|access-date=27 October 2020|website=abc|language=es}}</ref> The La Liga match in Miami due to take place on December 20, 2025 was cancelled on October 22, 2025 after backlash from players and several La Liga clubs.
He has also said that if the [[Catalonia]] region [[Catalan independence movement|became independent]] from Spain, then its football teams, including [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]], would not be allowed to compete in the Spanish football leagues.<ref name="SB" />
[[file:Javier Tebas, 16-08-13.jpg|thumb|Tebas in 2013]] Tebas was critical of former UEFA acting president [[Ángel María Villar]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 May 2016|title=La Liga chief Javier Tebas renews feud with acting UEFA boss Angel Maria Villar|url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/liga/2015-2016/la-liga-chief-javier-tebas-renews-feud-with-acting-uefa-boss-angel-maria-villar_sto5567541/story.shtml|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Eurosport UK|language=en}}</ref> who also headed the [[Royal Spanish Football Federation]] for many years. In 2017, Villar was arrested and jailed on corruption charges.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Pérez|first=Fernando J.|date=21 July 2017|title=Villar y su hijo Gorka, a la cárcel sin fianza|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2017/07/20/actualidad/1500560875_815376.html|access-date=27 October 2020|issn=1134-6582}}</ref> Tebas has also been critical of [[FIFA]], saying that they need an overhaul of personnel in order to regain the trust of the footballing community.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Sports/Football/2015/Oct-22/319841-fifa-incapable-of-change-from-within-spanish-league-chief.ashx| title=FIFA incapable of change from within: Spanish league chief| work=[[Agence France-Presse]]| via=[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)|The Daily Star]]| date=22 October 2015| access-date=21 May 2016| archive-date=2 December 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202154502/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Sports/Football/2015/Oct-22/319841-fifa-incapable-of-change-from-within-spanish-league-chief.ashx| url-status=dead}}</ref> Tebas has publicly criticized FIFA, alleging that it was responsible for contract information leaks from the [[Football Leaks]] website.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.football-espana.net/56692/tebas-fifa-fault-contract-leaks| title= Tebas: FIFA at fault for contract leaks|work=Football Espana| date=10 February 2016| access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref>
Tebas has opposed the European Super League, arguing that it would disproportionately benefit larger clubs while reducing opportunities for smaller teams.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DER SPIEGEL {{!}} Online-Nachrichten|url=https://www.spiegel.de/consent-a-?targetUrl=https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/football-documents-show-secret-plans-for-elite-league-of-top-clubs-a-1236447.html&ref=https://www.google.com/|access-date=27 October 2020|website=www.spiegel.de}}</ref> His reasoning is that these proposals would mean the end of football "as we know it today" and would be very harmful to national leagues and clubs, as well as fans, who could see their local clubs disappear.
Tebas also argues that the plans would be damaging to the big clubs and organizers of these proposed 'superleagues'. Tebas argues that, in his view, such plans could risk reducing fan engagement and club revenues over time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 October 2020|title=Tebas: "Una Superliga supondrá muchos daños económicos a los propios organizadores"|url=https://www.20minutos.es/deportes/noticia/4424338/0/tebas-superliga-europea-dano-economico-organizadores/|access-date=27 October 2020|website=20 minutos |language=es}}</ref>
The current superleague debate has been ongoing in the football industry since 2019. In May of the same year, all of the national leagues in Europe met in Madrid, at an event coordinated by La Liga, to express their disapproval of any such plans.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top English clubs in bombshell talks to join European Premier League|url=https://news.sky.com/story/top-english-clubs-in-bombshell-talks-to-join-european-premier-league-12109175|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Sky News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 May 2019|title=Tebas: 'Hay que parar la reforma de las competiciones en Europa. No me creo ese farol'|url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/laliga/20190507/462104844661/tebas-liga.html|access-date=27 October 2020|website=Mundo Deportivo|language=es}}</ref>
Tebas has been an outspoken opponent of state-backed football club funding, often referring to it as 'financial doping'.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/20/la-liga-president-javier-tebas-criticises-fifa-richest-clubs-danger|title=La Liga president criticises Fifa and says richest clubs are 'danger' to game|last=MacInnes|first=Paul|date=20 January 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 January 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He has stated that state-run football clubs, such as [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]], are a "danger" to the sport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.as.com/en/2019/08/06/football/1565114936_785696.html|title='State clubs' Man City, PSG are dangers to game - La Liga chief|date=6 August 2019|website=AS.com|language=en|access-date=22 January 2020|archive-date=3 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203110639/https://en.as.com/en/2019/08/06/football/1565114936_785696.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 21 May 2023, Real Madrid striker [[Vinicius Jr]] stated that Spain was seen as "a nation of racists" in Brazil after being racially abused by [[Valencia C.F.|Valencia]] fans earlier that day. Tebas responded by claiming that Vinicius did not turn up for meetings to discuss what La Liga "can do in cases of racism", adding: "Before you criticise and slander La Liga, you need to inform yourself properly."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65678382|title=Tebas comments make my blood boil - Richards|work=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2023 }}</ref>
Tebas has also been critical of the expanded [[FIFA Club World Cup]], stating that it breaks the flow of the club schedule, the matches are more like friendlies, and that it would continue financial imbalance between clubs. He has stated that he would like to see the tournament revert to its old format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/45529862/laliga-president-tebas-wants-club-world-cup-eliminated|title=LaLiga prez wants Club World Cup 'eliminated'|date=June 17, 2025|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{commons category}}
== External links ==
* ''The Guardian "''[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jan/31/javier-tebas-warns-football-world-not-to-overlook-threat-of-a22-super-league Javier Tebas warns football world not to overlook threat of A22 Super League]''"'' {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tebas, Javier}} [[Category:1962 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Lawyers from San José, Costa Rica]] [[Category:Spanish business executives]] [[Category:Costa Rican people of Spanish descent]] [[Category:La Liga]] [[Category:20th-century Spanish lawyers]] [[Category:Spanish fascists]] [[Category:Francoists]] [[Category:Spanish nationalists]] [[Category:Spanish far-right politicians]] [[Category:Spanish football chairmen and investors]] [[Category:Association football controversies]] [[Category:University of Zaragoza alumni]] [[Category:21st-century Spanish lawyers]]