La Liga has signed a collaboration agreement with its Japanese counterpart, the J. League, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

The agreement, which is part of La Liga's continued international expansion, will see the two institutions share information on matters such as management, stadium security, the promotion of women's soccer and the battle against piracy.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will ensure that the two parties will co-host workshops and conferences on strategic matters, marketing, financial control, administration and stadium security. The MoU also leaves open the possibility of academies being set up for young soccer stars in both Japan and Spain.

"The J. League has a lot to teach us," said Javier Tebas, chairman of La Liga. "The Japanese league is a standard-bearer and this is a strategic agreement for us."

Mitsuru Murai, chairman of the J. League, added: "In Spain, more than half of the players in every squad are academy products. Japan has to learn from the way La Liga nurtures the youth system so effectively."

La Liga also has agreements in place with global soccer organisations from Honduras, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Jordan.