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09/21 19:05 CDT Mexican Senate moves to restore soccer promotion and
relegation, reigniting Liga MX fight
Mexican Senate moves to restore soccer promotion and relegation, reigniting
Liga MX fight
By CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
AP Sports Writer
MEXICO CITY (AP) --- The debate over the absence of promotion and relegation in
Mexican soccer reached the floor of the Senate on Monday, where officials
announced that a legislative reform to restore the system will be proposed on
Tuesday.
Sen. Clemente Castaeda of the Movimiento Ciudadano party put forward the
proposal, backed by representatives from other party leaderships, including
Ignacio Mier of the ruling Morena party.
Castaeda stated that the initiative is critical for "expressly incorporating
sporting merit among the obligations that national sports associations must
observe" and ensuring promotion and relegation are enshrined in Mexican law.
"When they closed off the possibility of promotion, they didn't just change a
sporting rule; they also restricted a path for players, staff, and sports
projects to grow in a country that needs to open up opportunities," Castaeda
said.
The senator said that they invited the president of the Liga MX, Francisco
Iturbide, and the commissioner of the Mexican football, Mikel Arriola, and they
declined.
The Associated Press contacted the Mexican Federation for comment but did not
receive a response.
Broken promises and second-division Issues Owners of Mexican top-flight teams eliminated promotion and relegation in April 2020, citing financial difficulties among second-division clubs that were exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Under the original plan, the suspension was set for five years, with the system scheduled for reinstatement last year so that a team could earn promotion and another face relegation at the end of the most recent season in May of this year. However, reinstatement never materialized. Starting last year, several second-division clubs began protesting to demand that authorities honor the agreement. At the time, the Mexican Football Federation stated that returning to the system was impossible because the necessary economic conditions did not yet exist. "The whole pandemic thing was a sham; they always knew they were going to permanently shut down promotion and relegation," said Alberto Castellanos, president of U. de G., one of the protesting teams.
High barriers and disillusioned investors Liga MX imposed stringent requirements on second-division teams, mandating a certification process before they could aspire to play in the top tier. These rules included a venue capacity requirement of 30,000 seats --- a standard not even met by all active first-division clubs. The elimination of promotion directly impacted new investors in Mexican soccer. Cancn FC was acquired in 2022 by an investment group led by figures like former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow on the premise that promotion would return. "When we bought the team, we saw great potential --- potential that often even Mexicans don't see---but the current system fosters mediocrity; it's very sad," said Giovani Solazzi, the team's president. Facing pushback from certain second-division owners, Mexican soccer authorities completely removed the promotion and relegation system from the regulations this year. Neither the Federation nor Liga MX provided an explanation for the decision.
Top-flight perspective and public outcry The owner of Club Amrica --- one of Mexico's most powerful clubs and arguably its most influential decision-maker --- stated last month that he supports reinstating the system, provided the right conditions are met. "I am in favor of promotion and relegation. Everyone makes comparisons, pointing out that it exists in Spain, England, or Portugal; however, those countries have very solid second divisions, whereas here, we haven't managed to build that kind of solid second-division league," he said. Once promotion was officially scrapped, widespread protests broke out during second-division matches. Players responded on the pitch by standing motionless after the opening whistle or passing the ball passively without attacking. "I arrived in Mexico on June 8 under the premise that there would be promotion --- joining Morelia, a team contending for promotion ---- but then we were notified that it wasn't happening," said Spanish goalkeeper Roberto Galn. "That's why we protested and the clubs were sanctioned, but the protests will continue because we have the right to make our voices heard." Fan groups have also shown up at stadiums wearing protest shirts to voice their discontent. And last week, Mexico's National Antitrust Commission (CNA) launched an investigation into potential monopolistic practices in the Mexican league centering on the absence of a promotion and relegation system. ___ Armando Sols contributed to this report from Morelia, Mxico. ___ See AP's full soccer coverage here
Broken promises and second-division Issues Owners of Mexican top-flight teams eliminated promotion and relegation in April 2020, citing financial difficulties among second-division clubs that were exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Under the original plan, the suspension was set for five years, with the system scheduled for reinstatement last year so that a team could earn promotion and another face relegation at the end of the most recent season in May of this year. However, reinstatement never materialized. Starting last year, several second-division clubs began protesting to demand that authorities honor the agreement. At the time, the Mexican Football Federation stated that returning to the system was impossible because the necessary economic conditions did not yet exist. "The whole pandemic thing was a sham; they always knew they were going to permanently shut down promotion and relegation," said Alberto Castellanos, president of U. de G., one of the protesting teams.
High barriers and disillusioned investors Liga MX imposed stringent requirements on second-division teams, mandating a certification process before they could aspire to play in the top tier. These rules included a venue capacity requirement of 30,000 seats --- a standard not even met by all active first-division clubs. The elimination of promotion directly impacted new investors in Mexican soccer. Cancn FC was acquired in 2022 by an investment group led by figures like former Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow on the premise that promotion would return. "When we bought the team, we saw great potential --- potential that often even Mexicans don't see---but the current system fosters mediocrity; it's very sad," said Giovani Solazzi, the team's president. Facing pushback from certain second-division owners, Mexican soccer authorities completely removed the promotion and relegation system from the regulations this year. Neither the Federation nor Liga MX provided an explanation for the decision.
Top-flight perspective and public outcry The owner of Club Amrica --- one of Mexico's most powerful clubs and arguably its most influential decision-maker --- stated last month that he supports reinstating the system, provided the right conditions are met. "I am in favor of promotion and relegation. Everyone makes comparisons, pointing out that it exists in Spain, England, or Portugal; however, those countries have very solid second divisions, whereas here, we haven't managed to build that kind of solid second-division league," he said. Once promotion was officially scrapped, widespread protests broke out during second-division matches. Players responded on the pitch by standing motionless after the opening whistle or passing the ball passively without attacking. "I arrived in Mexico on June 8 under the premise that there would be promotion --- joining Morelia, a team contending for promotion ---- but then we were notified that it wasn't happening," said Spanish goalkeeper Roberto Galn. "That's why we protested and the clubs were sanctioned, but the protests will continue because we have the right to make our voices heard." Fan groups have also shown up at stadiums wearing protest shirts to voice their discontent. And last week, Mexico's National Antitrust Commission (CNA) launched an investigation into potential monopolistic practices in the Mexican league centering on the absence of a promotion and relegation system. ___ Armando Sols contributed to this report from Morelia, Mxico. ___ See AP's full soccer coverage here
