[Saba Sports News] Recently, President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Rafael Louzán stated in a media interview that Saudi Arabia will not host the tournament next year, but the Supercopa de España will remain in the Middle East, with Qatar being the most likely candidate to take over as host. The core motivation behind the RFEF’s insistence on holding the event in the Middle East lies in a significant leap in event revenue. Sponsorship, broadcasting, and service revenues generated from the Middle Eastern market far exceed those from hosting the tournament in Spain. Half of the income goes to the participating teams, while the remaining funds are reinvested in the development of league clubs, providing La Liga teams with more resources for transfer market activities and youth academy development.
However, this arrangement has sparked considerable controversy. Some local fans argue that the tournament has deviated from its domestic roots. The long journey and increased costs associated with attending matches have made on-site viewing an unattainable luxury, weakening the emotional bond between fans and their teams. Additionally, socio-cultural differences between regions have triggered debates at the value level, with some voices questioning whether organizers have overlooked the tournament’s traditions and cultural connotations in pursuit of commercial interests.