The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) has said La Liga clubs will halt play for 15 seconds at the start of games this weekend in protest at the organisation moving Barcelona’s December fixture against Villarreal to Miami.
The AFE said it had the support of the captains of the top-division sides for the “symbolic protest against La Liga’s lack of transparency, dialogue and consistency” over the plans. It added that Barcelona and Villarreal would not be involved in the initiative as “the clubs requesting the project”.
Barca’s visit to Villarreal on the weekend of December 20-21 was scheduled to take place at La Ceramica in eastern Spain, but instead is set to be moved to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. UEFA “regrettably” approved requests from La Liga and Serie A to take games abroad earlier this month.
“The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE), with the support of the First Division captains, announces that during all matches corresponding to the ninth round of the La Liga season, at the start of each match, the players will stage a symbolic protest against La Liga’s lack of transparency, dialogue and consistency regarding the possibility of playing a competition match in the United States,” an AFE statement read.
“The union has decided to keep the players of FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF, the clubs requesting the project, out of the initiative, despite sharing the underlying position and critical points, to avoid the protest action being interpreted as a possible measure against any club.
“In view of La Liga’s constant refusals and unrealistic proposals, the Spanish Footballers’ Association categorically rejects a project that does not have the approval of the main protagonists of our sport.
“The AFE demands that the employers’ association set up a negotiating table at which all information is shared and the exceptional characteristics of the project are analysed, the needs and concerns of the players are addressed, and the protection of their labour rights and compliance with current regulations are guaranteed.”
La Liga did not immediately respond to a request for comment but this week released a statement asking the AFE to “return to useful and constructive dialogue” with the organisation, “with respect for the facts and the rules”.
“La Liga reiterates its immediate willingness to schedule a meeting on an agreed date, to provide all relevant information within the applicable regulatory framework and to continue working, with rigour and transparency, to strengthen professional football in Spain,” it added.
The main collective of Spanish supporters’ groups FASFE — the Federation of Shareholders and Members of Spanish Football — called on supporters to applaud during the proposed 15-second protest.
“For this first weekend, and to show the unity of the main groups involved in football, we are calling on all First Division fans to show their rejection of the plan by standing and applauding during the first 15 seconds of the day’s matches, while the players express their rejection on the pitch by remaining motionless during the same period,” it said.
“With this, we aim to demonstrate the rejection of the relocation of our football by everyone involved in the sport, from the pitch to the stands.”
If the game in Miami goes ahead, it would be the first time a European top-flight league fixture has taken place abroad, although the Supercopa de Espana has been held in Saudi Arabia for four of the past five seasons.
Italy’s Serie A is hopeful of playing the February match between Milan and Como in Perth, Australia.
Real Madrid called on FIFA to prevent the fixture from taking place in Miami, while Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong also expressed his opposition to the plans. President Joan Laporta responded to say, “The club will play wherever La Liga tells them to”.
This weekend of La Liga games kicks off with Real Oviedo hosting Espanyol tonight (Friday) at 8pm UK time (3pm ET). Barcelona host Girona on Saturday while Real Madrid travel to Getafe on Sunday. Villarreal face Real Betis on Saturday.
The television broadcast of Real Oviedo’s La Liga game against Espanyol did not show both sets of players taking part in the protest for the opening seconds of Friday’s match.
