La Liga players are delaying the start of their matches this weekend in Spain to protest a decision to move a Dec. 20 match between Barcelona and Villarreal to the United States.
While AFE exempted Barcelona and Villarreal players from the protest “to avoid the protest action being interpreted as a possible measure against any club,” Girona players initiated the pause for about 15 seconds after kickoff before beginning play against Barcelona on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Oviedo and Espanyol players stood still in the first 15 seconds of their Friday, Oct. 17 match.
“The Spanish Footballers’ Association categorically rejects a project that does not have the approval of the main players in our sport, and demands that the employers’ association create a negotiating table in which all information is shared,” their statement said.
The Dec. 20 Barcelona-Villarreal match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium is set to be the first official La Liga match to be played in the United States, and outside of Spain.
“This is a landmark moment for La Liga and for world football,” La Liga president Javier Tebas said in an Oct. 8 news release when the match was confirmed.
“By bringing an official match to the United States, we are not only connecting with millions of fans across North America, but also reinforcing Spain’s leadership as a global soccer powerhouse. With the support of all relevant institutions, this initiative is bold, historic, and designed to inspire both our fans abroad and those at home in Spain.”
Pre-sale tickets for the match begin on Tuesday, Oct. 21, while sales to the general public start Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. ET.