13th-placed Elche relegated from La Liga due to unpaid taxes

Spanish club Elche who finished 13th in the La Liga table at the end of the league season will still be relegated due to unpaid taxes owed by the club to tax authorities. This means that they will become the first club to be forced out of the first division of the Spanish league due to non-payment of taxes.

Their misfortune will work in the favour of Eibar who finished 18th in the Liga table as they will be allowed to continue to play in the top division as Elche move to the second division.

The relegation and a fine of £130,000 will be the punishment levied upon Elche for serious infractions of Spain’s sports laws and league regulations.

However, Atletico Madrid who owe tax authorities 69 times more than Elche somehow remain in the top division while Elche are punished.

FACT: Atlético have 69 times more debt with tax authorities than Elche. #YoApoyoAlElche pic.twitter.com/XCHsp5dNpD

— Michael (@VCF_Nordic) June 4, 2015

Elche are confident their tax debts will be settled by the end of July. The club has already said they will appeal the decision if they were relegated over their tax debts.

While the saga over their potential relegation has been looming over the club for a few days now, they only received official confirmation of the same this morning.