TV rights: Real and Barcelona fined for breaking Spanish competition rules

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla (La Liga, the Spanish first division), Racing Santander (Secunda B, 3^rd division) and the Spanish broadcaster Mediapro, were all ordered by the CNMC (Spain's National Markets and Competition Commission) to pay a total of €15 million in fines for non compliance with the Spanish authority's rules on the sale of TV rights, on the 02/12/2013.

Mediapro, who own the Gol TV and La Sexta channels, made four year deals with each of the clubs in 2010, while the CNMC's rules prohibit TV rights contracts above a period of three years.

Real Madrid must pay a fine of €3.9 million, Barcelona €3.6m, and Seville and Santander €900,000 €30,000 respectively. The fines are proportional to the amount of the contracts negotiated with Mediapro, who must pay the remaining €6.57 million. The Spanish broadcaster has indicated, on the 02/12/2013, that they will appeal the CNMC's decision, believing that the contracts comply with current Spanish legislation.

Spain, unlike England, Germany, France and Italy, has implemented a system of individual negotiation for TV rights revenue…