spanish Women’s Soccer League to Feature in National Lottery
Spain’s Liga F, the top-tier professional women’s soccer league, will soon be included in the country’s national lottery, “La Quiniela,” marking a historic step towards financial equity and increased visibility for the sport. The move,formalized through a royal decree law currently being finalized by the government,will allocate a portion of the lottery’s revenue to the 16 Liga F clubs,which until now has exclusively benefitted from the men’s league.
Royal Decree to Allocate Lottery Revenue to Liga F
The government is putting the finishing touches on a new royal decree law that will regulate how the female league is integrated into lottery tickets. This legislative move is backed by the recently approved sports Law that ensures equality between male and female sports. Last year, the lottery generated €160.62 million and €41 million in taxes, according to data from the State Society of Lotteries and State Betting (SELAE) and the Ministry of Finance.
Boosting Visibility and Professionalization of Women’s Football
Pablo vilches, CEO of Liga F, hailed the inclusion as “another step in the professionalization process of women’s football” in Spain. He anticipates that having Liga F matches featured on the lottery will expose the league to new audiences, driving interest and engagement. while the exact financial impact remains to be seen,the move is expected to provide a important boost to the league.
distribution Details and Internal Disputes
The draft decree proposes a proportional distribution of funds based on the number of Liga F matches featured on lottery tickets each season. For example, if two Liga F matches are included in a given week’s selection of 15, around 13.33% of the revenue earmarked for professional leagues will go to the women’s league. While most Liga F clubs support this model, independent clubs that don’t have male football club backing are asking for a guaranteed percentage of the funds.
Players Union Calls for Equitable Distribution
The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) is advocating for an equal split of the revenue between the men’s and women’s leagues, a proposition that is considered unlikely to pass. The AFE highlighted what it considers an “grotesque” oversight, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and supporting professional female footballers.
A Surge in Popularity for Women’s Soccer in Spain
While occasional Liga F matches appeared on the lottery as 2017, there has never been consistant promotion in the lottery. Women’s football has witnessed significant growth in recent years, fueled by the success of the national team and FC Barcelona’s dominance in Europe. In 2024, registered female players exceeded 100,000, establishing football as the second most popular sport for women in Spain, surpassed only by basketball.
further Steps in the Royal Decree Approval
The Higher Sports Council (CSD) anticipates gathering the necessary reports and approvals on the draft royal decree law in the coming weeks. the proposed financial distribution remains subject to change as the approval process progresses.
How will the revenue generated from La Quiniela’s inclusion of liga F matches be distributed amongst the different Liga F clubs?
Spanish Women’s Soccer League to Feature in National Lottery – Q&A
Frequently Asked questions
- What is “La Quiniela” and why is it important?
- La Quiniela is Spain’s national sports lottery, where people bet on the outcomes of soccer matches. Including Liga F means the women’s league will receive a share of the revenue, boosting its financial stability and visibility.
- How much money is generated by the lottery?
- in the last year, the lottery generated €160.62 million, with €41 million in taxes.
- How will the revenue be distributed among the Liga F clubs?
- The draft decree proposes a proportional distribution based on the number of liga F matches featured on lottery tickets each week. Such as, if two Liga F matches are included in a week’s selection of 15, around 13.33% of the revenue earmarked for professional leagues will go to the women’s league. Some self-reliant clubs are pushing for a guaranteed percentage.
- What is the players’ union advocating for?
- The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) is pushing for an equal split of the revenue between the men’s and women’s leagues,though this is considered unlikely to be approved.
- How has women’s soccer grown in Spain?
- Women’s football has exploded in popularity, thanks to the success of the national team and FC Barcelona’s dominance in Europe. In 2024, over 100,000 women are registered players, making it the second most popular sport for women, just behind basketball.
- What’s next in the process?
- The Higher Sports Council (CSD) is gathering reports and approvals,with the financial distribution details subject to change as the royal decree progresses.
Did you know?
Prior to this,occasional Liga F matches appeared on the lottery as early as 2017,but never with consistent promotion,highlighting the significance of this new integration.
to sum up
The inclusion of Liga F in La Quiniela marks a pivotal moment for women’s soccer in Spain,promising financial growth and increased visibility. Stay tuned for further developments as the royal decree law progresses!
