FC Barcelona’s controversial game in Miami caused the first major protest in Spain’s La Liga.
In the encounter between Real Oviedo and Espanyol Barcelona on Friday evening (0-2), the 22 starting players around Espanyol’s German professional Clemens Riedel remained motionless on the pitch for 15 seconds after kick-off, while the TV world director cut to an outside view of the stadium.
Players Association announces protests for the entire match day
A few hours earlier, Spain’s players’ association had announced protests for the ninth matchday of the first division from Friday to Monday. The association said the actions are intended to address a “lack of transparency and dialogue” regarding the relocation of a league game to the USA.
La Liga announced last week that FC Barcelona would play its away game against Villarreal FC on December 20th in the adopted home of club icon Lionel Messi. This had caused widespread rejection by a large proportion of fan groups and clubs, who saw on the one hand an attack on football culture and on the other hand a competitive advantage for Barca, for whom an away game now felt like a home game.
Flick and de Jong are also not happy
Barca coach Hansi Flick and midfielder Frenkie de Jong weren’t too happy about their away game either. “Now we’re playing an away game on neutral ground. I don’t like that and I don’t think it’s right for the players.”said de Jong.