Javier Tebas and Enric Rojas discussed the future of soccer at Tecnun

Last Thursday, April 30, LALIGA President Javier Tebas and Enric Rojas, director Business and Sports at Movistar Plus+, spoke at Tecnun on the financial stability of soccer and warned of the risks of piracy. The event, organized by Tecnun, was attended by nearly 200 people, including alumni, students, and professionals from campus.

“Piracy isn’t Robin Hood giving free soccer to the poor. These are genuine criminal organizations that generate between 500 and 600 million a year, and we’re going to put a stop to it,” Javier Tebas stated emphatically. Enric Rojas also referred to piracy as “the great cancer of soccer. It is Movistar’s biggest competitor in the world of content today, harming employees, their families, and the industry’s growth.”

In this regard, the president of LALIGA announced that investigations had been launched into networks operating in several countries and defended the controversial technological measures implemented by the league to curb illegal broadcasts.

During the colloquium, moderated by journalist Javier Ábrego, both executives argued that soccer is currently enjoying a golden age and rejected the notion that young people are turning away from the sport. “It seemed that after financial difficulties and the departure of Messi or Ronaldo from La Liga, soccer was coming to an end, but we’re actually in an incredible moment,” said Enric Rojas, director Business and Sports at Movistar Plus+.

For his part, Tebas announced that “this year will see a new all-time record for attendance soccer stadiums, with an occupancy rate of nearly 85%.” He also highlighted the growth in viewership and the clubs’ improved financial strength, thanks to financial oversight and the revenue generated by broadcast rights.

The colloquium with a discussion of the growing role of technology, VAR, and artificial intelligence in professional soccer. In this regard, the president of LALIGA noted that “VAR financial aid the game financial aid as fair financial aid ,” though he reminded the audience that “it still depends on human judgment,” citing as an example the pressure of the moment when “the referee goes to a screen and, alone in front of 100,000 people, decides whether it’s a penalty or not.”

AI will evaluate the referees

In this vein, he announced that “we are going to incorporate artificial intelligence into score ” and explained that “60% of a score over the course of the season will be based on artificial intelligence.” He also foreshadowed a structural shift in how soccer is produced, stating that “the production of sporting events will change within 24 to 48 months,” amid innovations in cameras, data, and broadcast formats.

For his part, Rojas highlighted the strategic partnership between LALIGA and Movistar Plus+ and emphasized that their relationship “is not one of provider client, but of partners.” As he explained, the stability resulting from the recent agreement , which runs through 2032, provides certainty for both clubs and broadcasters.

Photo Gallery

The workshop @Tebasjavier

At Tecnun, part of @unav, with Enric Rojas @MPlusDeportes, discussing the evolution of LALIGA in an increasingly competitive environment during a colloquium students, alumni, and staff the school. We talked about model , new audiences, and technology, as well as positive results in… pic.twitter.com/7MrWRvIMAc

— Javier Tebas Medrano (@Tebasjavier) April 30, 2026