Mexico Antitrust Watchdog Probes Professional Soccer Market

Mexico’s National Antitrust Commission has opened a formal investigation into possible monopolistic and anti-competitive practices in the country’s professional soccer market. The inquiry follows protests by second-division clubs and players over the suspension of promotion and relegation, which the Mexican Football Federation halted in 2019 despite an agreement to restore the system by 2026. The federation says lower-tier clubs remain eligible for promotion but must meet strict requirements, including stadium-capacity standards that some top-flight teams also fail to satisfy. The investigation also examines how professional competitions are affiliated, organized and accessed, amid longstanding concerns about concentrated club ownership and broadcasting power. The CNA said the probe does not establish wrongdoing, but violators could face fines of up to 10% of annual revenue.