Playing for 90
Fansided

Why Liga MX relegation system is pointless

By Gabe Martinez

TOLUCA, MEXICO - MARCH 13: Players of Dorados pose for pictures during the 10th round match between Toluca and Dorados de Sinaloa as part of the Clausura 2016 Liga MX at Nemesio Diez Stadium on March 13, 2016 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Miguel Tovar/LatinContent/Getty Images)
TOLUCA, MEXICO - MARCH 13: Players of Dorados pose for pictures during the 10th round match between Toluca and Dorados de Sinaloa as part of the Clausura 2016 Liga MX at Nemesio Diez Stadium on March 13, 2016 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Miguel Tovar/LatinContent/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The saying goes “You snooze, you lose” and in the case of soccer leagues, you have a bad year, down you go to the second division.

For the better part of the last six months stories have been flying about the threat of Chivas of Guadalajara nosediving into oblivion and heading to the second division. However, thanks to the dismal play by Dorados of Sinaloa Chivas will survive (albeit, they don’t need the help with how well they’re playing) and Dorados are headed to the second division. Or are they?

More from Liga MX

According to a new report released by El Universal, Sinaloa owner Eustaquio de Nicolas is shopping around and keen on buying up another first division franchise to keep his club and his interests in the first division. You heard that right, his club would not see demotion, but rather would just change cities to keep themselves afloat.

The “Plan B” for Dorados would be to reportedly purchase the Chiapas franchise and assume that name to maintain itself in the first division. It’s a rather complicated matter as while they would potentially move, then later on move back to Sinaloa.

In Mexico’s demotion rules a club facing relegation must play in the second division for at least one year and if they win that league they can go back to the first division. Seems simple, but in the state of Mexican soccer, the powers that be have found this loop-hole that just about allows teams to buy up other franchises to stay in the top flight.

QUERETARO, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 24: Oribe Peralta of Santos (R) fights for the ball with Osmar Mares of Queretaro during a Quarterfinals match between Queretaro and Santos Laguna as part of the Playoffs Apertura 2013 Liga MX at Corregidora Stadium on November 24, 2013 in Queretaro, Mexico. (Photo by Joaquin Morelli/LatinContent/Getty Images)
QUERETARO, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 24: Oribe Peralta of Santos (R) fights for the ball with Osmar Mares of Queretaro during a Quarterfinals match between Queretaro and Santos Laguna as part of the Playoffs Apertura 2013 Liga MX at Corregidora Stadium on November 24, 2013 in Queretaro, Mexico. (Photo by Joaquin Morelli/LatinContent/Getty Images) /

This isn’t the first time this practice has come about. In 2013 Queretaro faced sure relegation and found themselves headed for the second division, but only a few weeks after it became official Queretaro’s leadership filed an application with the Mexican Federation to move then Chiapas Jaguares to Queretaro to maintain their standing in the first division. That application was accepted and Jaguares moved to Queretaro. The city basically had two teams playing at once, the original franchise in the second division and the new team in the first division. Confusing right?

So, how can this be fixed? First and foremost new rules need to imposed that if a team is relegated, then bite the bullet and suffer the consequences. However, that may be more difficult than it seems until possible fresh leadership takes over. Next, it’s time they get rid of the complicated mathematical way of keeping tabs on teams and their standing with the league using points per game equations so on and so on.

If we are to legitimately see the worst teams in the league relegated it would be wise to adopt a similar style to what we see in the EPL for example. Except I think they can take it a step further to create intrigue, since there are short seasons in Mexican soccer, Fall and Spring, why not take each team that finished last in the respective seasons and play in a one-game playoff. Loser is relegated, the winner survives. To be promoted they already so something similar so it’s not a difficult thing to implement.

More playing for 90: Why Stoke City signing Gignac is a win-win

Unfortunately, there are no signs of any changes coming any time soon. Expect more of the same in seasons to come until some one stands up and says enough is enough, you lose, you can’t be a part of the first division party.

Home/Liga MX