All 22 players who started Friday’s match between Real Oviedo and Espanyol stopped for 15 seconds at the start of the game to protest the decision to play La Liga matches abroad.
La Liga players are protesting this weekend against the league’s controversial decision to move the Villarreal-Barcelona match to Miami. Earlier this month, La Liga announced that the December tournament would be the first European league match to be played overseas.
The decision has been met with backlash, particularly from players, supporters and even FIFA, which has sought to ban such moves. Ahead of this weekend’s La Liga matchday nine, a statement from the players’ association confirmed that all stars will pause for 15 seconds at the start of the match in a show of solidarity against La Liga matches being played abroad.
The first match between Real Oviedo and Espanyol took place on Friday night, with players from both groups continuing to play. However, the protest was not shown on television as La Liga’s official broadcast cut out a bird’s-eye view of Oviedo’s stadium for about 20 seconds before the match started.
It comes as Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong spoke out against La Liga’s decision, followed by coach Hansi Flick. “The players are not happy and I am not happy, but La Liga has decided that we will play this game,” Flick said.
La Liga president Javier Tebas defended moving matches overseas, arguing it would increase “medium- to long-term revenue” and the value of Spanish soccer’s television rights, which pale in comparison to the Premier League. The game, which will see Villarreal lose home advantage, will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, home of NFL giants the Miami Dolphins and venue for next summer’s World Cup.
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The league has already chartered a plane to Florida and estimates 2,000 to 3,000 Villarreal fans will be on board. However, it remains to be seen whether the players intend to travel.
A statement released on Friday said: “The Spanish Football Players’ Association (AFE), with the support of the captains of the first division, has announced that during all matches corresponding to the ninth round of the La Liga season, at the start of each match, the players will hold a symbolic protest against La Liga’s lack of transparency, dialogue and consistency regarding the possibility of hosting official matches in the United States.”
“In order to avoid this protest being interpreted as a possible measure against any club, the union has decided to distance the players of FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF, the clubs requesting this project, from the initiative, despite sharing the fundamental position and key points.”
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“In view of La Liga’s constant rejections and unrealistic proposals, the Spanish Football Players’ Association categorically rejects any project that does not have the approval of the protagonists of our sport.
“AFE calls on employer associations to set up a negotiating table where all information is shared, the exceptional features of the project are analysed, the needs and concerns of the participants are addressed, and the protection of their labor rights and compliance with current regulations are guaranteed.”
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