Barcelona gamers started Saturday’s dwelling match towards Girona with a 15-second pause after kick-off in protest towards LaLiga’s determination to carry their regular-season match towards Villarreal in Miami.
Barça had been attributable to play away at Villarreal on Dec. 20, however the league has relocated the fixture to the Onerous Rock Stadium on the identical date, with tickets attributable to go on sale subsequent week.
The Spanish Footballers’ Affiliation [AFE] introduced Friday {that a} protest can be carried out by gamers this weekend aimed on the league’s “lack of transparency, dialogue and coherence” in staging the Miami sport.
The AFE didn’t say what the protest can be, however on Friday, within the first LaLiga sport of the weekend — Actual Oviedo vs. Espanyol — the 2 groups paused for the primary 15 seconds.
The AFE stated Barça and Villarreal gamers wouldn’t be compelled to hitch within the protest, given it may put them in an uncomfortable place with their golf equipment, however confirmed that they had been in help of the motion.
Nonetheless, as Girona kicked off after which paused for 15 seconds on the Olympic Stadium, Barça’s gamers did the identical, remaining nonetheless till the away crew began to play.
Villarreal host Actual Betis afterward Saturday.
LaLiga has been attempting to take a sport to the USA since 2017, however now seems to be to be able to lastly pull it off after receiving approval from the Spanish Soccer Federation [RFEF], which already levels the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia, and UEFA.
Whereas Barça and Villarreal as golf equipment have agreed to take part, different groups in LaLiga are towards the plans.
Actual Madrid have been the fiercest critics, saying it’s going to “give an undue sporting benefit” to the groups concerned and “units an unacceptable precedent.”
Even Barça midfielder Frenkie de Jong has stated he doesn’t help the plans, acknowledging Madrid’s considerations that it helps Barça as they get to play an away sport on impartial territory.
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Barça coach Hansi Flick has additionally stated that he’s “not blissful” about it however that he would respect the choice made by the league and the golf equipment concerned.
Following the on-pitch protests this weekend, it’s unclear what steps the AFE may take subsequent.
In concept, the union doesn’t must help the sport for it to go forward, however AFE president David Aganzo has stated he has spoken with political events about subsequent actions.