Liga MX faces antitrust complaint over promotion and relegation suspension

Jorge Álvarez Máynez, leader of the Movimiento Ciudadano party, has filed a new complaint with the National Antitrust Commission regarding the suspension of the promotion and relegation system in Liga MX.

The legal action follows the announcement of the ‘Nuevo Modelo Deportivo’ by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and public statements from the Liga MX executive president describing the league as a ‘closed franchise league’. Máynez argues that permanently blocking access to the First Division creates a barrier to entry that benefits current clubs while limiting opportunities for new investors, teams, players, sponsors, and fans.

This request seeks to investigate whether the decision to eliminate promotion and relegation stems from coordinated agreements intended to prevent competition. The move draws parallels to the 2021 ‘Pacto de Caballeros’ case, where regulatory bodies established that sports organizations are subject to economic competition rules.