Mexican Football Federation eliminates promotion and relegation for 6 years

Written by: Israel Benitez

What has been happening in the last days with Mexican football is the perfect example that club owners and other business man involved in football will always focus in the money as priority. In Mexican football we can see that football isn´t the priority, is way far behind, coming after the personal interests of some few owners. All this has slowly taken the First Division of Mexican football into dark days.

It all started when after Alebrijes of Oaxaca won Apertura 2019, Clausura 2020 tournament started with only 12 teams participating in the Silver category instead of 15, this after Loros Colima and Potros UAEM decided to abandon due to the lack of rentability to the respective owners, and after Bravos de Juarez bought their spot in First Division after acquaring the 'franchise' of Lobos BUAP, which may sound crazy but normal in mexican football. Before the tournament was stopped due to COVID-19 breakout in Mexico, 8 out of 11 Fixtures were played.

On April 2020 during phase 2 of COVID-19, a club owners assembly it was decided to cancel Clausura 2020, and not only that but there was a voting regarding disappearing the 2nd Division Ascenso MX and transform it into what they call a 'Development league'. This meant that any of the teams were gonna be able to be promoted to Maximum category, also meant firing many players as they are above 23 years which is gonna be the age limit for new development league.

The teams who voted against the 2nd division to be demolished were: Mineros Zacatecas, Correcaminos UAT, Leones Negros UdG, Venados, ​FC Juarez, ​Necaxa, Atl. ​San Luis, ​Tigres UANL, ​Pachuca, ​Leon and ​Monterrey. América, ​Toluca, ​Pumas, ​Cruz Azul y Cimarrones were the teams whuch remained in silence. The rest of teams (14) voted in favour of the Development League idea.

The New Development League structure and characteristics were revealed last week: The league will have up to 20 teams, the actual 12 Ascenso MX teams+ 3 clubs invited from 'Segunda Division' (Third bracket of Mexican football). In the first season 60 millions of pesos (2.5 millions USD) will be dibursed between the 12 ex-Ascenso MX teams and then each team will be financed with 20 millions of pesos (0.8 million USD) yearly, as well as having players under 23 years and there will be a limit of foreign players per squad.

Why would football teams vote against the possibility of being promoted? Who is behind these idea? Is this really in order to fulfill the acceptance of MLS in order to create a North American superleague? Will this development league be a good thing for football in Mexico?

Football IQ