FOOTBALL – LIGA MX; CAS DISMISSES AN APPEAL BY 6 SECOND DIVISION MEXICAN FOOTBALL CLUBS

Lausanne, 4 September 2025 - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed an appeal by second division Mexican football clubs (‘the Clubs’) against the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) concerning the immediate reinstatement of promotion and relegation in the Mexican first division league (Liga MX).

The appeal filed on 19 May 2025 sought to reinstate promotion and relegation in the Liga MX after a decision by the FMF on 29 April 2025 confirmed that they remained suspended for the 2025/2026 season. The FMF first suspended promotion and relegation for 6 seasons in 2019/2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Initially, 10 clubs were involved in the appeal. CF Atlante, Cimarrones de Sonora FC, Alebrijes de Oaxaca FC and Jaiba Brava subsequently withdrew from the case, with the following appellants proceeding:
1.  Club Atlético La Paz
2.  Club Atlético Morelia
3.  Cancún FC
4.  CD Mineros de Zacatecas
5.  Venados FC
6.  Leones Negros de la UdeG

An in-person hearing took place on 28 August 2025 in Mexico City. After examining the evidence, the CAS Panel concluded that the FMF had always determined to suspend the system until the conclusion of the 2025/2026 season, which was made clear to the clubs when the decision was taken.

Specifically, the Panel found that the sporting seasons impacted by the agreement at the FMF General Assembly on 24 April 2020 to suspend promotion and relegation correspond to those in the FMF decision on 29 April 2025, the last one being the 2025/2026 season. Consequently, the appeal is dismissed.

This document is an unofficial summary for media use. Unless Parties request confidentiality, a CAS award with grounds will be published on the website in due course.