Mexican clubs file suit against Liga MX to resume promotion/relegation | OneFootball

According to The Athletic, 10 second-division clubs in Mexico have filed a claim on Monday with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against Liga MX and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).

According to court documents, the 10 clubs from Mexico’s Liga Expansión are demanding the return of promotion and relegation ahead of the 2025-2026 season.

Mexico paused promotion and relegation for six seasons amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the court filing alleges that the federation have not 'formally committed' to reinstating promotion and relegation as the six-year pause comes to end in June.

“The clubs are fighting to improve the system as a whole and to provide basic rights for all clubs across the country,” Eduardo Carlezzo, the lawyer representing the 10 clubs said this week.

“It is absurd and nonsensical to oppose the return of promotion and relegation to Mexican football. Only one club would be promoted and one relegated. In Brazil, for example, four clubs are promoted and relegated every year. In Spain, Italy, France and England, three clubs (are relegated).”

Furthermore, an anonymous executive from the league did not mince his words in hitting out at the lack of a true promotion and relegation system, and other issues in Mexican football.

“In Mexican football there are monopolistic practices and corruption where several (clubs) get together and vote against a free market, established guidelines, statutes and agreements,” he said.

“We have to clean up football and work together. We began to realize that there were people who were not going to keep their word and that’s when we began this process.”

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