“We went to the CAS because we're tired of how Mexican soccer is administered.”

▲ The Leones Negros of the UdeG are one of the teams certified to aspire to promotion to the First Division. Photo @LeonesNegrosFC

Karla Torrijos

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, May 29, 2025, p. a12

After the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), headed by Mikel Arriola, stated that the lawsuit filed by nine Expansion League teams before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to request the return of promotion and relegation is unfounded , said clubs raised their voices again and expressed their dissatisfaction with the way in which national football is managed.

We went to the CAS because we are tired of how Mexican soccer is administered. It has become a business that only benefits Liga MX clubs to the detriment of the entire national soccer network, and where financial gain seems to outweigh passion for the sport , they stated in a letter released yesterday on social media.

Our goal is to guarantee fair, transparent, and equitable conditions for all players in national soccer. We did not go to the CAS to reinterpret rules or agreements, but to demand their compliance , added the document signed by the clubs Atlético La Paz, Atlético Morelia, Cancún FC, Cimarrones de Sonora FC, Alebrijes de Oaxaca FC, CD Mineros de Zacatecas, Venados FC, Leones Negros de la Universidad de Guadalajara, and Jaiba Brava.

They pointed out that "the concentration of power rests in the hands of a single figure—Mikel Arriola, who serves as the president and executive director of the FMF, as well as the Liga MX and the Expansion League—and that obstructs any possibility of dialogue when it comes to matters pertaining to our league."

Legal simulation

They also commented that the certification for promotion is nothing more than a legal simulation to disguise the fact that there is no real commitment to restoring promotion and relegation, and we are surprised that they are defending a phantom procedure that has not even been called this year .

Regarding the suspension of financial resources ordered by the FMF after their complaint to the CAS was made public, they stated that "because we spoke out, we were illegally sanctioned with the withholding of the so-called subsidy.

It's not a favor, it's compensation for having been stripped of our right to promotion, and the funding comes from fines imposed on Liga MX clubs with lower scores.

On the other hand, they warned that there is a conflict of interest within the FMF that no one seems to question , since the general secretary and legal director of said organization (Iñigo Riestra) is the brother of the executive president of Grupo Orlegi, owner of the Atlas and Santos Laguna clubs, José Riestra.

In response, the FMF published a statement in which it assured that sporting promotion based on merit is open .

He recalled that since 2022 , the clubs themselves have approved the opening of promotion through the certification of four clubs and the sporting merit, for one of them, of being Champion of Champions. To date, only two clubs (Atlante and UdeG) have been certified, and the rules have not changed .

He stated that it is false that there is no dialogue between both parties, and clarified that there is no sanction or illegal withholding of the Improvement Fund from the Expansion League clubs, to which more than 1.1 billion pesos have been given in recent years .

In this regard, former director Mario Trejo stated that dialogue should prevail before accusations and retaliation, but above all, they should not forget that the main focus is the growth of Mexican soccer, not just the economic aspect .

He considered that the lack of promotion and relegation seriously affects our football, as it lowers its level and limits the performance of the players, which is directly reflected in the results of the national team, which, to date, has still not transcended on an international scale .

From the editorial staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, May 29, 2025, p. a12

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has temporarily banned Pumas and Atlas from making transfers just as both teams are preparing to assemble their squads for the 2025 Apertura tournament. Liga de Expansión clubs Atlético Morelia and Cancún, which are part of the group fighting for the return of promotion and relegation, were also punished.

Because the ban is currently indefinite, the rosters could be affected in making signings for next season. This is especially true given that Pumas manager Efraín Juárez is currently selecting his players and has already said goodbye to Lisandro Magallán, while the Guadalajara native hasn't made any moves so far.

The four Mexican teams appear on FIFA's list of registration bans, which often includes clubs with financial debts and breaches of contract. However, in none of the cases does the organization explain the reasons for the sanctions, noting only that they took effect on May 28 for Pumas, Atlas, and Atlético Morelia, while for Cancún they began on May 1.

Atlas, owned by Grupo Orlegi, was the only club to provide a few details regarding its situation, indicating that it stems from an administrative issue with FIFA's Clearing House, which is responsible for ensuring the payment of training bonuses to teams.

Atlas reports that the documentary and administrative requirements requested by FIFA Clearing House have already been met by the club during the second half of May. Because compliance fell outside the established deadline, FIFA imposed a temporary sanction, which should not affect the roster , the Red and Blacks announced.

In contrast, Pumas released a statement with more general details. "Our institution's legal department is already working on the necessary clarifications to resolve this issue with the agency ," the team indicated. Reports indicate that the Pumas' case is also an administrative matter.

▲ Pachuca confirmed the departure of coach Guillermo Almada, just as the team is approaching its participation in the Club World Cup, which will take place from June 14 to July 13 in the United States. Under the Uruguayan, the Hidalgo club was champion of the Liga MX in the 2022 Apertura tournament and the Concachampions in 2024. Among the candidates to coach Pachuca, the name of Matías Almeyda stands out, while rumors point to the possibility of Almada arriving at the Cruz Azul bench. Photo AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, May 29, 2025, p. a12