Global Fútbol

LaLiga and the K League will continue to work together during the 2021/22 season to foster knowledge sharing in key areas as part of their three-year agreement. Following the signing of their MOU last December and the start of actions through joint workshops and campaigns, both competitions have decided to deepen their collaboration in four specific areas. 

Coach training 

Since December, LaLiga has offered different training sessions to coaches and K League staff based on the experience of the LaLiga Sports Projects team in their initiatives around the world. These sessions, held virtually with the participation of LaLiga clubs including Valencia CF and Elche CF, will continue this season, which will also see a proposed return to a face-to-face format once the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic allows.   

Economic control 

In a similar vein to that which has been done with coach training, both competitions have held virtual training sessions on financial control to ensure the viability and future growth of the K League and its clubs. During the coming season, they will seek to return to an offline format to further explain a mechanism that has allowed LaLiga clubs to reduce their debt with the Spanish Treasury from €650 million in 2013 to €23 million in 2020 and has seen LaLiga become the only competition among Europe’s top leagues to close the 2019/20 season with a positive balance. 

Anti-piracy 

A principle area of focus during first months of the agreement, the fight against audiovisual piracy has been one of the most active fields of work. The launch of the “Protect K League” campaign, together with the technological improvements developed by LaLiga's anti-piracy department, make this a priority for the new season.  

Other areas of training 

After LaLiga's cooperation in the “K League Football Industry Academy” forum, representatives of the K League will participate in training sessions in different areas in Spain. 

Furthermore, a new field of collaboration will be added in the coming season: eSports. LaLiga and the K League will carry out joint projects and activations in this field, highlighting South Korea’s importance in the world of eSports, as well as Spain’s - a country in which the sector has grown significantly in recent years.  

“Since the signing of the agreement last December we have seen how our relationship with LaLiga has gone from strength to stregnth and how we have worked together to overcome such a difficult situation. We are impressed with LaLiga's commitment. Thanks to it we have been able to adapt to the limitations imposed by the pandemic; carry out virtual training meetings for K League coaches and their clubs; and also an in-depth analysis of economic control mechanisms, which are key to creating a sustainable professional football industry. Here at the K League we are very happy with the progress of the relationship and we look forward to a future where these ties become even stronger,” said Yeon Sang Cho, general secretary of the K League. 

“For us at LaLiga it is a great source of pride to be able to count on such an important ally as the K League and to share our knowledge and experience with them. These first months since the MOU was signed have been very productive and we have experienced a very enriching exchange of knowledge that has allowed us to move forward despite the global pandemic. At LaLiga we face this season with great enthusiasm, and a desire to deepen our relationship with the K League and to bring our joint projects to fruition,” said Sangwon Seo, LaLiga’s delegate in South Korea.