Real Oviedo and Espanyol players remained motionless for the first 15 seconds of their match today, though live television broadcasts did not capture the protest. It’s just the start of a nearly league-wide protest in Spanish football against the decision to host a fixture outside of Spain for the first time.
Players across La Liga are expected to pause for 15 seconds at the start of most matches this weekend to protest the decision to move FC Barcelona’s December clash against Villarreal to the United States. The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) is spearheading the initiative, citing a lack of dialogue, coherence, and transparency from La Liga regarding the overseas fixture.
Barcelona and Villarreal players are not expected to partake in the protest, despite reportedly sharing some of the union’s concerns. The AFE said that all 20 team captains agree with the protest, but that the two clubs who will take part in the Miami match were not asked to participate. The union called on La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to create a negotiating table where players’ rights and concerns could be addressed and labor regulations respected.
The Barcelona-Villarreal match, originally scheduled to be played at La Cerámica in Spain, is set to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 20th. UEFA approved the relocation, albeit with some resistance, while La Liga president Javier Tebas defended the move as a long-term strategy to boost revenue and television rights, noting plans to make international fixtures an annual event. La Liga has also chartered planes to transport an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Villarreal fans to Florida.
Reactions from Barcelona and Villarreal have been mixed. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the inconvenience of traveling 7,200 kilometers before a short winter break, while midfielder Frenkie de Jong criticized the decision as unfair to players, who already face a congested calendar. Villarreal players, also competing in the UEFA Champions League, face similar challenges. Barcelona president Joan Laporta, however, framed the Miami match as an opportunity to expand the club’s presence in the U.S. sports market.
If it proceeds as planned, the Barcelona-Villarreal game would mark the first European top-flight league match held outside the continent, though the Spanish Supercopa has previously been staged in Saudi Arabia. Italy’s Serie A is also exploring a similar international fixture with AC Milan set to face Como in Perth, Australia, in February.
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* [Barcelona: La Liga](/barcelona-la-liga)
* [Rest of La Liga](/rest-of-la-liga)