Javier Tebas: Our partnership with the Iraqi Football Association aims to raise the professionalism of the game and build a strong league

The president of the Spanish Football League, Javier Tebas, emphasized that the existing partnership between "La Liga" and the Iraqi Football Association focuses on a strategic project titled "Raising Professionalism," aimed at developing the football infrastructure in Iraq and charting a path for a strong local league capable of competing.

Tebas said in an interview with Sky News Arabia:

He added: "This project needs some time and requires changing some prevailing mindsets and cultures, but we have nonetheless made significant strides so far."

He continued: "Iraqi football is very important and has a high-quality competitive ability, and Iraq has players of high quality who deserve to receive salaries that reflect this quality."

He further stated: "There is a wide scope for improving the management of Iraqi clubs, and there are players who can compete in major leagues, so it is important to establish a professional structure for the Iraqi league, which we are working on in cooperation with the Iraqi Federation."

This partnership comes at a time when the Iraqi Football Association seeks to make a qualitative leap in management and organization, ensuring the development of the local competition and opening broader horizons for Iraqi players to appear in European leagues.