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Mexican Politician Demands Antitrust Probe into Liga MX Promotion Ban
🇲🇽 Mexico /Sports

Mexican Politician Demands Antitrust Probe into Liga MX Promotion Ban

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Jorge Álvarez Máynez, leader of the Movimiento Ciudadano party, has petitioned Mexico's National Antitrust Commission.
  • He is demanding an investigation into the elimination of promotion and relegation in Mexican football's Liga MX.
  • Máynez argues the move creates barriers to competition and constitutes monopolistic practices.

Jorge Álvarez Máynez, the leader of the Movimiento Ciudadano party and a former presidential candidate, is advocating for the return of promotion and relegation in Mexican football. He has formally requested the National Antitrust Commission investigate the recent decision to abolish this system in Liga MX.

Let promotion return! We have submitted a petition to the National Antitrust Commission to demand an investigation into the elimination of promotion and relegation, regarding possible barriers to competition, monopolistic practices, and other undue restrictions on the functioning of the market.

— Jorge Álvarez MáynezAnnouncing his petition to the National Antitrust Commission via social media.

Through social media, Máynez expressed his strong opposition to the elimination of promotion and relegation. His petition to the antitrust commission seeks an inquiry into potential barriers to competition, monopolistic practices, and other undue restrictions on the market. "Mexican football needs competition on and off the field. Sporting merit is fundamental," Máynez stated, emphasizing the importance of fair play and competitive integrity.

For the current Apertura 2026 tournament, Liga MX's regulations have suspended promotion and relegation for the football year. This decision has drawn significant criticism towards Mikel Arriola, the Commissioner of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF). Arriola's recent characterization of the Liga de Expansión MX as merely a "development league" has further fueled the backlash and intensified scrutiny of the league's management.

Mexican football needs competition on and off the field. Sporting merit is fundamental.

— Jorge Álvarez MáynezStating his belief in the importance of fair competition in Mexican football.

The move to eliminate promotion and relegation is seen by many, including Máynez, as a measure that protects the financial interests of current Liga MX club owners at the expense of competitive balance and the aspirations of teams in lower divisions. The petition aims to challenge this decision on grounds of unfair market practices and a potential stifling of competition within Mexican professional soccer.

The Liga de Expansión MX was considered a development league.

— Mikel ArriolaCommissioner of the Mexican Football Federation, whose statement drew criticism.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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