Barcelona and Girona players stood still for 15 seconds after kick-off of their La Liga match on Saturday – a coordinated protest against the league’s decision to stage a regular season match in the United States. Here’s what you need to know about the controversy.
Question: What exactly happened in the Olympic Stadium?
A: After Girona kicked off, both teams remained motionless for the first 15 seconds. The gesture echoed similar breaks in previous La Liga matches that weekend, starting with Real Oviedo against Espanyol on Friday.
Question: What were the players protesting about?
A: The protest, organized by the Spanish Football Federation (AFE), was against the decision of La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation to move Barcelona’s December 20 away match against Villarreal to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The AFE accused the league of showing a “lack of transparency, dialogue and coherence” in making this move.
Question: Were Barcelona and Villarreal forced to join the protest?
A: No. The AFE said players from both clubs were not obliged to take part as it could put them in a difficult position with their employers. However, Barcelona players voluntarily joined “out of respect” for their peers. “We were not part of the protest, but we felt we should follow along,” said midfielder Pedri.
Question: Why is the game being played in Miami?
A: La Liga has long sought to bring a regular season match to the US to expand its global reach. After several failed attempts since 2017, the competition finally received approval from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and UEFA.
Q: How have clubs and players responded?
A: Opinions are divided. While Barcelona and Villarreal agreed to the plan, Real Madrid have strongly opposed it, calling it “an unacceptable precedent” that offers “an excessive sporting advantage” to the teams involved. Even Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong said he does not support the idea, echoing Madrid’s concerns. «I can understand the clubs; they will benefit from it. But I would not have decided it myself. I don’t agree with it either. From a competitive perspective, it is also unfair. We are now playing an away match on a neutral ground. But I don’t have the feeling that anyone is listening to us,» said De Jong.
Q: What is La Liga’s position?
A: The league claims the match in Miami represents progress in expanding Spanish soccer’s global footprint. She emphasizes that the necessary legal and logistical approvals have been obtained.
Question: Can the AFE block the match?
Answer: Not directly. Union approval is not required for the game to proceed. Still, AFE President David Aganzo said he has contacted political parties and may consider further action following the weekend’s symbolic protests.
Q: What’s next?
A: La Liga plans to continue ticket sales next week. In the meantime, the players’ union may increase the pressure, creating a new confrontation between the league’s commercial ambitions and the collective voice of the players.
Q: Has this happened before in other competitions?
This isn’t the first time a major football league has flirted with the idea of taking competitive matches abroad. In 2008, the English Premier League proposed the ’39th match’, an additional overseas round in which clubs would play in cities such as New York, Sydney or Dubai. The reaction from fans, clubs and FIFA was immediate and fierce: the plan was scrapped within weeks. Since then, the Premier League has limited itself to pre-season events such as the US Summer Series and the Asia Trophy.
Serie A is trying something similar. Como and AC Milan will play a league match in Perth, Australia in February 2026. Como said the move was motivated by financial survival and described the match as vital to the “global competitiveness” of Serie A.
The Spanish Supercopa has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020 under a 10-year deal worth a reported €240 million between La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Saudi authorities.
France’s Ligue 1 looked into taking a league match to China and the US between 2018 and 2019, but fan opposition and French labor laws stopped the plans. However, the French Super Cup (Trophée des Champions) is often held abroad: in Canada, China, the US, Morocco, Gabon and Israel.
(With input from AP)
Published on October 19, 2025
