Ten Liga de Expansión teams sue Football Mexican Federation and Liga MX in effort to bring back promotion-relegation

Ten teams from the Liga de Expansión have filed a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and Liga MX, demanding the reinstatement of promotion and relegation starting next season.

According to The Athletic, the lawsuit was filed by attorney Eduardo Carlezzo and his firm, Carlezzo Advogados, who are representing the dissatisfied clubs. The legal action follows the FMF’s lack of response to two formal requests made on March 24 and April 7, in which the clubs asked for the promotion and relegation system to be reinstated for the 2025–2026 season.

The clubs involved in the lawsuit are: Atlante, Atlético La Paz, Cancún FC, Atlético Morelia, Alebrijes de Oaxaca, Mineros de Zacatecas, Venados de Mérida, Leones Negros of UDG, Jaiba Brava of Tampico Madero, and Cimarrones de Sonora. It's worth noting that Cimarrones did not participate in the most recent tournament due to financial issues, but they still joined the legal action. According to the source, a spokesperson stated that the original plan was for promotion and relegation to return in the 2025–2026 season, not the upcoming one. It was also mentioned that the matter could be discussed at the next owners' assembly, scheduled after the Clausura 2025 final.

Furthermore, it was emphasized that there is currently no formal commitment from the FMF to reinstate the promotion system, raising concerns among Liga de Expansión clubs. These concerns are heightened by the perception that the federation is dominated by first division clubs, who would benefit from maintaining a system without relegation.

In addition, the Mexican Football Federation itself has stated that, “according to the information published by The Athletic, it has not received any official notice of legal proceedings against it.” Should it receive formal notification, the FMF has assured it will present its position to the appropriate authorities.

In 2020, due to the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexican football executives decided to temporarily suspend the promotion and relegation system in Liga MX. This decision was made to support franchise owners in the first division and strengthen Liga Expansión, with the idea that, years later, the system would return with a stronger second division. However, it seemed that this reform would remain permanent.

This decision mainly affected the teams in the second division. Teams like Atlante, Leones Negros de la UDG, Venados de Mérida, and Atlético Morelia are among those that have expressed their dissatisfaction in recent years with the suspension of promotion and relegation. But, according to Liga MX, these teams do not meet the necessary requirements to be First Division clubs. It's a stance that has been heavily criticized by executives from the mentioned teams, who have even taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).