THE Spanish league bleated today that the centre-left government’s proposal to increase income tax on the rich could scare away football’s top players. 

La Liga president Javier Tebas sent a letter to clubs today saying the suggested tax reforms would “negatively impact the competitiveness of our league.”

Tebas warns that the proposed tax hike on those earning over €130,000 (£114,400) a year would cost the clubs £70.4 million and “mean a loss of 20 elite players from our league.”