According to Diario AS, Atlético Madrid CEO Gil Marín proposed at the World Football Summit to limit the number of games players can compete in per season to reduce fixture congestion and protect player welfare.

The tenth World Football Summit concluded with a special panel discussion. LaLiga CEO Javier Gómez, Atlético Madrid CEO Gil Marín, and Maheta Molango, chairman of the English players' union, participated in the discussion, analyzing changes in the football industry over the past decade and looking toward future developments.

Gómez explained: "LaLiga's revenues have grown over the past decade. TV revenues have increased by 70 percent, and commercial revenues, stadium attendance, and social media engagement are also rising. We've experienced explosive growth that has allowed us to strengthen our position as a global brand. Today, local and foreign owners are essentially on equal footing. In the past, we were a local league with international ambitions; now we are a global entity."

Molango spoke about the differences between the Premier League and LaLiga: "When I played for Mallorca, I complained to Javier Gómez more than once, but now I'm on the other side. I've experienced many challenges, but I also understand the club's perspective. The Premier League's success comes from excellent management; there are things there that LaLiga doesn't have. Language is one of them—they can enter natural markets that were once colonies, and the mentality of the fans in the stands is also different. In Spain, after the 60th minute, everyone understands that the team must control the game, while in the Premier League, teams give everything until the final whistle. For fans, that's very attractive."

Molango also said: "Most Premier League owners are investment funds and Americans. One obvious change I've observed is that people are starting to follow players more than clubs. What was once most special about us was this almost religious connection to the club. I think, from an industry perspective, that's not good for us."

Gil Marín spoke about Atlético Madrid's growth over the past decade: "It's important to know where we've come from. The club's growth is something to be proud of. Without the overall industry growth and the regulations driven by Tebas and Gómez, it would have been impossible to be where we are today. We came from a time when football management was very amateurish, but things have changed now. The industry has professionalized, and that's why it has experienced rapid development. Ten years ago, we were still at Vicente Calderón Stadium; now we're at Cívitas Metropolitano, which is completely different. We can now offer services and experiences we never could before. Today, our revenues, after deducting player sales, exceed 500 million euros. We've been in the top ten of UEFA rankings for ten consecutive years. As one of six clubs that participate in the Champions League group stage, that's something to be proud of. We've won 10 trophies and have deep social roots."

He also said: "When I started, there were no social media at all, but now we have over 100 million followers. We've become bigger and more global, and we're proud of that. Moving forward, we must continue thinking about the next decade."

Regarding the future of the football industry, Gómez said: "We're moving toward a polarization of resource distribution. Money isn't infinite, and more funds are flowing to top clubs. This will be a focus of discussion—and it already is. How this problem is solved will directly influence the future of this industry. No one would think a bank could go bankrupt, but it happens. If resources become concentrated in the hands of a few clubs, the league will be destroyed, and a vicious cycle could emerge."

Gómez added: "We must find a model that protects football and achieves fair and balanced resource distribution. It's achievable, and how the next decade unfolds depends on how we act."

On new competitions, Molango said: "The two biggest challenges for football are governance and fixture scheduling. We must rediscover the value of scarcity. We mistakenly believe that the more you pack in, the better. Americans don't air everything simultaneously; the NBA doesn't run at the same time as the NFL."

He also said: "Our system is sick; it encourages the wrong behavior. The people making decisions have never played football or been managers. It's like me going to Apple and talking about everything except the iPhone. I see people speaking about football governance who shouldn't be in those positions. For the sake of football, we need to change our governance."

Finally, Gil Marín said: "My vision isn't just for Atlético Madrid's future, but for football's future overall, because I'm involved in various organizations. I work with Tebas at LaLiga; he defends the essence of football and also seeks balance between small and large clubs. The same applies to my work with Ceferin at UEFA. Some federations have no TV rights and no ticket revenue. Governance is crucial."

On fixture scheduling, Gil Marín said: "UEFA and FIFA want more games because it brings more money and more power. A balance must be found, especially for top clubs. I propose limiting the number of games players compete in, whether in the league or for national teams. For example, a player competing in 38 league matches should play a maximum of 31 games total."

He also mentioned another future challenge: "The concept of multi-club ownership is different. They invest heavily in the Premier League, even when they post losses. Recently, I almost had an argument with someone who suggested changing our philosophy to theirs, but I told them it wouldn't work. The concept of a closed league doesn't function here. The competitive concept is completely different here. We must respect our values while adapting in other areas. We're already doing this by transforming our environment and creating a leisure destination that serves the local community."

Übersetzt von KI.

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