Expansion League, between pressures and threats

Ap and Editorial

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, June 19, 2025, p. a12

Amid pressure from the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and even investigations against executives for defending the right to a sporting merit award, the Expansion League will hold a general assembly today, where it hopes to be heard by the leaders of the national soccer governing body in order to reestablish promotion and relegation this year.

Tensions rose before the meeting due to the worsening differences between the clubs and the FMF. This was especially due to the investigation the organization opened against Alberto Castellanos, president of Leones Negros de la UdeG, and Giovanni Solazzi, vice president of Cancún FC, who have been the most insistent in defending the possibility of promotion to the First Division based on sporting merit.

Solazzi and Castellanos could receive fines of up to 450,000 pesos, according to AP, simply for being among the most vocal in demanding the right to move up a category.

The federation suspended the traditional promotion and relegation format in 2020 to support First Division teams, which had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, it was stated that the measure would be for only six years, which would expire in 2026.

However, the Expansion League clubs were notified that the format will be reinstated until the 2026/2027 season, and that at least four teams must meet the requirements to obtain certification that accredits the standards to be part of the top flight.

The FMF's refusal to comply with the deadline for restoring promotion and relegation for the 2025/2026 season led to a lawsuit filed by 10 clubs initially before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in May.

Even though Cimarrones, Atlante, Alebrijes and Jaiba Brava withdrew their legal appeal without revealing the reasons, Atlético Morelia, Atlético La Paz, Venados de Yucatán, Mineros de Zacatecas and Cancún FC remained firm in their bid to have the sports award for the best team in the tournament reinstated.

However, the Mexican Football Federation has constantly exerted pressure on the teams and their directors. Just a few days after the lawsuit was confirmed before the CAS, the body chaired by Mikel Arriola cut the monthly subsidy of up to 2 million pesos it had given to the Expansion League teams as compensation for the suspension of promotion and relegation.

We went to the CAS because we're tired of how Mexican soccer is run. It has become a business that only benefits Liga MX teams to the detriment of the entire national soccer network, and where financial gain seems to outweigh passion for the sport , the affected teams responded.

Now, the clubs hope to present their grievances to the FMF at a meeting where other issues are expected to be addressed, such as the tournament schedule and regulations, as well as broadcast rights.

▲ Mexican Marcelo Mayer contributed a home run in the Boston Red Sox's 3-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, where his compatriots Randy Arozarena and Rowdy Téllez play. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-3, with Spaniard Sergio Ramos pitching the first pitch of the game. AP Photo

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, June 19, 2025, p. a30