La Liga clubs divided on sharing TV revenue

Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad also oppose the Madrid/Barca model arguing it will maintain the La Liga giants' unfair duopoly and continue to limit competition in the top division, reducing its appeal to TV audiences.

After the latest round of talks on Wednesday, the six clubs said they were considering filing a complaint with Spain's competition authority about the agreement, which would take effect around 2014 after current contracts expire.

"Under the current system of revenue sharing it would be impossible for any club other than Madrid or Barca to win the league," said Del Nido, flanked by the presidents of the five other clubs.

"I don't know how any of us could justify to our fans that we are only able to compete for fifth place."

Past TV deals negotiated individually by Real and Barca netted about half the total pot of about 600 million euros, helping make them the world's richest clubs by income.

'LEAGUE OF TWO'

"In general, a distribution (of TV revenue) that continues to promote a 'league of two' made up of Madrid and Barca must be rejected," Villarreal president Fernando Roig was quoted as saying by As newspaper on Wednesday.

"We won't be competitive and our football wil