Spanish government includes women's football in La Quiniela

The Spanish government is set to approve a royal decree this Tuesday to permanently include four women's Liga F matches in La Quiniela, a popular betting game. This move, spearheaded by the Superior Sports Council under the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, has been in the works for over a year. Its main goal is to provide additional income for the clubs in the women's professional league.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez celebrated the decision on social media, stating it is "one more step for the league to continue being an international reference." Sánchez argues that adding Liga F matches to the betting game will help "professionalise women's football" and shows a "commitment to equality on and off the pitch."

Changes to the Betting Game

With the permanent inclusion of women's league matches, the exact format of La Quiniela is still uncertain. Although the government's decree requires validation by Congress within 30 days, the rule will come into force immediately. This means the betting game will include the three remaining rounds of the women's competition, starting this weekend.

The main question is whether the number of men's Primera or Segunda División matches will be reduced to maintain the traditional 15 games, or if the total number of matches will increase. An expansion would mean participants would need to predict the results of 19 matches, a new paradigm for the game.

A Long-Standing Demand

The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) has welcomed the inclusion of Liga F in La Quiniela. The association praised the union's consistent work since 2019 to achieve this outcome. The AFE stated it has "worked constantly and decisively" with political parties and various institutions "in defence of the rights and interests of male and female footballers."

David Aganzo, president of the union, said that "the presence of Liga F in La Quiniela is a firm step towards equality and the recognition of women's football, and I am proud of the work done by the AFE to make it possible." This change reflects a broader effort to elevate the status and financial stability of women's football in Spain.