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Will LIGA MX be forced into PRO/REL? | DUEL NATS

VAMOS Network36m 9s

Mexico's National Antitrust Commission has opened an investigation into Liga MX's monopolistic practices regarding the absence of promotion and relegation since 2019. Hosts discuss how government intervention could force meaningful change, contrasting it with previous regulatory actions like the Pacto de Caballeros, while debating whether a partially reopened system or true promotion/relegation would better serve Mexican football's long-term growth and player development.

Summary

The episode opens with discussion of Mexico's National Antitrust Commission announcing an investigation into Liga MX's elimination of promotion and relegation, marking a significant escalation beyond previous protests and court rulings. Unlike previous regulatory moments, this government action carries teeth—potential fines up to 10% of Liga MX's revenue and forced operational changes. The hosts compare this to 2021's Pacto de Caballeros case, where government intervention successfully dismantled an owners' agreement preventing free agency for players.

Herculez and Seth debate whether partial pro/rel (even if limited like the three-year percentage system) is preferable to the current closed system. Herculez argues that any door opened to promotion/relegation, however restricted, provides hope and opportunity for growth in communities currently excluded from professional football. Seth counters that a truly open system would invite international investment and create more valuable economic opportunities across Mexico, particularly in underserved regions like the south.

The conversation highlights the human cost of the current system: second division footballer wages have dropped 50-70% since 2019, players are leaving Mexico for lower-tier American clubs, and betting corruption has emerged due to financial desperation. Both hosts acknowledge the depth of Mexican football talent at the second and third division levels, evidenced by national team players like Johan Vázquez, César Montes, and Julián Quiñones who benefited from promotion paths. The three-year percentage system used during the last pro/rel era is criticized as fundamentally protecting large clubs while making it nearly impossible for newly promoted teams to survive.

Seth emphasizes that true sports competitiveness requires meaningful consequences—that games feel less intense and meaningful without genuine relegation risk, citing Jesus Gallardo's post-World Cup comments about how the absence of relegation in Liga MX negatively impacted national team performance. Herculez warns that Liga MX ownership will likely manipulate any new pro/rel system to continue protecting themselves, suggesting cynicism about genuine reform regardless of government pressure.

About this episode

<p>When there are no consequences for finishing last, the intensity in LIGA MX drops drastically – and the national team pays the price on the world stage.</p><p>Liga MX owners use economic security as the main reason for banning promotion and relegation, yet history shows financial mismanagement in Mexico's First Division. This week, the Mexican Antitrust Commission has launched an investigation into Liga MX and may penalize the FMF and its 17 ownership groups for monopolistic practices. </p><p>Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar discuss how this systemic bottleneck harms grassroots development and shrinks the talent pool for El Tri, exploring the human cost players pay under the current system and debating whether the Mexican government will fix Liga MX. How did stars like Orbelín Pineda and Johan Vasquez break through the old system, and will pro/rel bring hope back to local Mexican communities?</p><p><br /></p><p>Presented by Camarena Tequila</p><p><br /></p><p>SUBSCRIBE TO DUEL NATS ON YOUTUBE! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DuelNats?sub_confirmation=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@DuelNats?sub_confirmation=1</a></p><p>Follow DUEL NATS!</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/duelnats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/duelnats</a></p><p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/DuelNats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/DuelNats</a></p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@duelnats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@duelnats</a></p><p>CONTACT: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">[email protected]</a></p><p><br /></p><p>00:00 - Herc's 2nd Division Experiences</p><p>02:09 - Mexican Football Monopoly?</p><p>07:09 - Fans Want Pro/Rel</p><p>11:15 - No Pro/Rel Limits Futbol Growth</p><p>16:16 - Ownership Questions</p><p>19:39 - Financial Impacts</p><p>21:43 - Is the Status Quo Enough?</p><p>27:59 - Effects on the Mexican National Team</p><p>31:42 - Player Salaries Going Down</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>

Key Insights

  • Mexico's National Antitrust Commission opened an investigation into Liga MX's monopolistic practices regarding promotion/relegation, marking a significant escalation beyond previous protests because it carries financial penalties up to 10% of revenue and potential forced operational changes.
  • Previous government intervention through Cofese in 2021 successfully dismantled the Pacto de Caballeros (owners' agreement preventing player free agency), demonstrating that when the Mexican government steps in, substantive change follows.
  • Second division footballer wages in Mexico have dropped 50-70% since promotion/relegation was eliminated in 2019, creating desperation that has led to betting corruption and players leaving Mexico for lower-tier American soccer leagues.
  • National team players like Johan Vázquez, César Montes, and Julián Quiñones benefited directly from promotion/relegation opportunities in the second division, suggesting that eliminating these pathways narrows the talent pool available for international competition.
  • Jesus Gallardo explicitly stated after the 2022 World Cup that the absence of promotion/relegation in Liga MX reduced game intensity and contributed to Mexico's poor performance, linking domestic league structure directly to national team success.
  • The three-year percentage relegation system previously used in Mexico was structurally designed to protect large clubs, making it nearly impossible for newly promoted teams to survive and thus functioning as a tool to maintain monopoly rather than ensure genuine competition.
  • Liga MX's administrative separation from the Mexican federation occurred simultaneously with their announcement against bringing back promotion/relegation, raising questions about whether the separation was intended to shield Liga MX from federation-level rules like those mandated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
  • International investment groups (like Mark Spiegel's purchase of Querétaro for over $100 million) are specifically attracted to Liga MX because of the absence of promotion/relegation, suggesting that opening the system to genuine competition might deter certain ownership models while attracting different types of investors.

Topics

Mexico's antitrust investigation into Liga MXPromotion and relegation elimination since 2019Government intervention in professional soccerEconomic impact on second and third division playersMexican national team competitivenessLiga MX's separation from the federationSports league monopoly and competitive balanceInternational investment in Mexican soccer

Transcript

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