Spain: Real Madrid and Athletic Club appeal against LALIGA-CVC deal dismissed

The Provincial Court of Madrid has dismissed "in its entirety the appeal lodged by Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Madrid CF against the ruling that had already rejected their claim against LALIGA regarding the agreements approved by the Extraordinary General Assembly of 10 December 2021," the Spanish professional football league announced on 23 June 2026.

The two clubs had initiated legal proceedings against LALIGA in December 2021 concerning LALIGA Impulso, the agreement between LALIGA and investment fund CVC Capital Partners announced in August 2021. The claim had already been rejected by a Madrid court of first instance in February 2024. FC Barcelona had also been involved in the proceedings before withdrawing in June 2023.

"The ruling rejects the argument that the transaction constitutes a transfer of audiovisual rights to CVC and recalls that clubs remain the owners of those rights, notwithstanding their collective commercialisation entrusted by law to LALIGA. The Court also considers that CVC’s contribution is structured through a profit-sharing agreement intended to finance…