LFP denies any possibility of postponing La Liga start date

Jul 28, 2012 12:22:00 PM

The start of the season is yet to be confirmed due to a conflict between television rights holders, but the Spanish league's FA has moved to quell uncertainty

Spain's Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) has denied the possibility of postponing the start date for the 2012-13 Primera Division season despite conflict between two broadcast rights holders.

The commencement of the new term is pencilled in for August 18, but Mediapro and Canal+ have disagreed on the former's intention to auction the rights for nine teams, drawing the ire of the latter, who has image rights for the other 11 sides in La Liga.

The conflict means that with three weeks left until the start of the new season, there are still no specific dates and kick-off times for the first matchday.

Rumours have surfaced that the opening weekend of the season will be postponed to resolve the issue, but the LFP has made it clear that that would not be the case.

A statement from the LFP reads: "Without any doubt, [the season] will begin on August 18 as planned."

Should the start date be pushed back, it would be the second year in a row that the league season is postponed after the beginning of the 2011-12 campaign had to be delayed due to strike action from players.

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