It would be a move that would send shockwaves through world football. Real Madrid are apparently plotting a move away from the Spanish La Liga in protest at the standard of refereeing in the division, which would see them seek ‘asylum’ in one of Europe’s other big five leagues: Serie A, Ligue 1, German Bundesliga or, potentially, the English Premier League.
Jude Bellingham was sent off during the Galacticos’ contest with Osasuna in February 2025. The England midfielder was dismissed for using foul and abusive language – a charge that Bellingham accepts, but he claims he used the naughty word in reference to his own performance; rather than that of the referee, José Luis Munuera Montero.
Disillusioned by the standards of officiating in Spain’s top division, it has reported that Real could look to make a move, in protest, to one of the other major leagues in Europe. In retaliation, referees in La Liga have threatened to go on strike over what they perceive to be bullying from Real, so it’s clear that not all is well in the Spanish top tier.
Could Real Madrid Join the Premier League?
There are numerous examples of clubs that play in a league in a different country to their home nation – more on those shortly, but none are of the size, prestige or global appeal of Real Madrid. There is a mechanism via which the Galacticos could switch countries, however, it would be a long and arduous process that would likely take years to pass through the necessary red tape and inevitable legal battles.
Approval Needed from FIFA & UEFA
They would first need to seek the approval of FIFA, who would ultimately have the power to green light (or not) Real’s potential move overseas. But to make matters all the more challenging, the Madrid outfit would also need the express permission of La Liga in order to leave – good luck with that. It would be a catastrophe for the Spanish competition to lose one of their flagbearers.
As if all that wasn’t enough, if Real’s switch was to be to another European league, then UEFA would also need to ratify it – given that club officials were, and still are, so keen to leave the Champions League behind for the European Super League, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the governing body were, shall we say, resistant to such a change.
Welsh Sides that Play for English Premiere League
But the one bit of good news for Real is that some other clubs have blazed a trail and now play their football in a league in a different country to their own. The most pertinent examples are Cardiff City and Swansea City, the Welsh sides that have both played in the English Premier League. Hollywood owned Wrexham AFC will be hoping one day to emulate them.
They applied to be welcomed into the English football pyramid decades ago having hit a ceiling on Welsh soil, but crucially they had to start at the bottom of the professional game and work their way up – could you imagine Real Madrid being willing to start their journey in League Two? That seems implausible, to say the least.
Taking Geography into Account
Geography can also play a part. In the very north of England, it makes sense for some clubs to actually play in the Scottish system, rather than having to travel many miles and many hours for games against southern teams. Berwick Rangers are just one of the clubs to have travelled that path, while others have gone the other way; Gretna and Annan Athletic two examples of Scottish outfits that have played in the English pyramid at one time or another.
Sometimes, it just makes sense to play in a different territory. Andorra is a tiny country – population in the region of 80,000 – that is bordered by Spain on one side and France on the other. Their football league is, therefore, not abundant with quality; even if the flagship team, FC Andorra, is a capable outfit.
Andorra has a close synergy, historically and spiritually, with the Catalan region of Spain, so when FC Andorra applied for membership of the Spanish Football Federation in the 1960s, they were approved. At the time of writing, they play in the third tier and are owned by former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique… even if things haven’t always gone swimmingly.
Of course, if your home country doesn’t have a football league system, then you have to play elsewhere. That explains why Monaco compete in France’s Ligue 1, despite being an independent, sovereign principality. All of Liechtenstein’s football clubs play in the Swiss pyramid, for the same reason.
The Old Firm in England
It’s one of the oldest questions asked in British football: will the Old Firm clubs, namely Glasgow Celtic and Rangers, ever play in the English football system? As the likes of Cardiff and Swansea have shown, there is a pathway from one UK country into England, however, they had to start at the bottom and work their way up. Would Celtic or Rangers be willing to do likewise, given that they currently get to play in the Champions League via the Scottish Premiership?
Or would the Football Association be willing to broker a unique deal so that they start off in the English Premier League, or at the very least the Championship? There’s no doubt that the Old Firm clubs have the size, the fanbase and the history to be an excellent addition to English football, while Premier League clubs would have no problem footing the bill for an away day up to Glasgow.
There would need to be a willingness amongst English member clubs to welcome Celtic and/or Rangers into the fold, which is a sentiment that has typically been in short supply in modern times. Back in 2016, a proposal – labelled the whole game solution – for a restructuring of English football could have seen Scottish clubs accepted into England, however, the idea was voted down by EFL members.
Seven years prior, Premier League club owners were asked to vote on admitting the Old Firm into the division – 14 out of the 20 rejected the idea out of hand. It’s highly doubtful that the Old Firm will join the English Premier League any time soon, while the odds of Real Madrid leaving La Liga are even slimmer.
