Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, stated that he would personally "understand" a potential strike by football players protesting the overcrowded match calendar, even though the organization he leads would not officially support such initiatives.

"The problem the players are highlighting is a real issue. We are more concerned with the economic ecosystem of European football, and they are aware of that. The risk that the Club World Cup might not feature some players is real and significant," Tebas said in a press conference after presenting a complaint to the European Commission against FIFA for abusing its dominant position in scheduling competitions.

"As an institution, we don’t support strikes and such measures. But do I personally understand the situation? Yes, I do," Tebas added.

Addressing the same issue, Premier League Director of International Relations, Mathieu Moreuil, explained that the complaint filed by European leagues and players' associations with the European Commission "seeks a solution that avoids such extreme measures," while stressing the importance of listening to the players and expressing empathy for their concerns.

With the introduction of new competitions like the FIFA Club World Cup, Tebas warned that it "clearly affects players' health" and dismissed the idea that domestic leagues should be compromised, arguing that national competitions are not responsible for the scheduling problems. Instead, he pointed the blame at the creation of new tournaments and formats.

"It's easy to say reduce the number of teams from 20 to 18 in La Liga. But that means expelling two clubs from the top division, which would have a ripple effect on thousands of jobs—not just for players, coaches, and staff, but also for local media, hotels... it's not that simple," Tebas explained.

He concluded with a pointed remark: "That decision isn't just one for casual discussion, that's something you come up with after partying for three straight days at eight in the morning."