The decision of a Spanish court in Spanish Liga club Real Zaragoza’s case against the Mediapro agency for non-payment of this season’s television rights fee of €18 million ($23 million) has been delayed until mid February.
El Periódico de Aragón reports that the delay is because of the court’s decision to hear first Mediapro’s claim that it had first right of refusal on the club’s television rights for next season. The club had expected the court to rule in its favour in the case in the next few days.
Zaragoza has signed a three-year deal, from 2012-13 to 2014-15, worth €75 million in total and €23 million in the first season, with rival pay-television operator Prisa.
The delay will prove problematic for Zaragoza, which sits bottom of the Liga and is currently in voluntary administration. A ruling in its favour will allow it to pay off some of its debts. It will now have to await the decision of the Zaragoza court.
Clubs in Spanish football’s top-tier league negotiate their television rights contracts individually.