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Spanish league to fine clubs if empty seats shown on TV

The Spanish league plans to fine clubs that allow empty seats to be shown on television next season.

Move intended to improve league's product for 'fans at home'

The Associated Press ·
Fans are seen in the stands prior the La Liga match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona on March 20, 2016, in Villarreal, Spain. The league is planning to fine teams who show empty seats on TV in coming seasons. The move is part of a push to provide a better product for TV audiences. (Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)

The Spanish league plans to fine clubs that allow empty seats to be shown on television next season.

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, says new regulations require top-tier clubs to fill sections of the stadium which are shown by certain camera angles.

The move is part of the league's efforts to improve its product for television audiences and increase its competitiveness with the English Premier League.

Tebas said teams will have to allocate fans in the right places to avoid being fined. He said the move will also force clubs to find ways to increase attendance.

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