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Exclusive Javier Tebas Interview: “What I’m worried about is the Premier League”

Tebas

Alamy

LaLiga boss talks to Off The Pitch about the Super League, fighting on his own, the massive financial losses in the Premier League, ethical standards and Gianni Infantino’s favourite chef, Salt Bae.

Tebas is keen for the European Union to legislate so that it “improves” on a recent Opinion by the CJEU’s advocate general that dealt a blow to the Super League.

Why it matters: Tebas is by far European football’s most powerful voice in arguing for better and stronger government.

The perspective: The LaLiga president describes Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent move to Saudi Arabia as “beyond sportswashing” and questioned the Portuguese megastar’s impact on LaLiga broadcast revenues.

17 January 2023 - 4:54 PM

As Javier Tebas considers the list of adversaries he has called out over the last couple of years – a kind of footballing axis of evil if you believe the LaLiga President – the stern face of the 60-year-old lawyer briefly melts into a grin as his aide accompanies a question about the Turkish chef Salt Bae by mimicking the trademark sprinkling gesture. 

Last month Salt Bae, the nickname for Nusret Gokce, owner of a string of hugely expensive steak restaurants and a friend of Inf

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