Spain's LaLiga introduced plans earlier this month to carry a Barcelona-Villareal sport in Miami on Dec. 20. Let's simply say the gamers aren't thrilled.
A match between Actual Oviedo and Espanyol on Friday started with each participant standing nonetheless for the primary 15 seconds, a protest of LaLiga's deliberate worldwide sport. The Affiliation of Spanish Footballers introduced earlier than the sport that comparable protests might be held across the league, except for video games involving Barcelona and Villareal.
Nevertheless, no video of the primary protest is on the market from the published, as LaLiga appeared to reply by not exhibiting the motion on the sector on the world tv feed till the gamers began shifting after 25 or so seconds.
Espanyol and Actual Oviedo gamers stopped play for 20 seconds after kickoff to protest LaLiga’s plan to carry Villarreal–Barcelona in Miami.
LaLiga’s response? The printed solely started on the twenty first second — skipping the protest completely.
This was the picture proven on the official… pic.twitter.com/4UkwvERANs
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) October 17, 2025
Enjoying a league sport outdoors of Spain has invited intense criticism from each gamers and followers, for causes starting from custom to logistics.
Per ESPN, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick indicated his gamers weren't comfortable in regards to the 4,500 miles of journey wanted to play a regular-season sport:
"My players are not happy, I am not happy, but LaLiga decided that we will play this game," Flick stated at a information convention in reply to a query about his place on the sport.
Nevertheless, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reportedly defended the transfer as a method to push additional into an American sports activities market the place the membership's former star Lionel Messi is at present attracting important consideration. Barcelona can be scheduled to journey to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Tremendous Cup on Jan. 7.
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LaLiga president Javier Tebas has been pushing for a global sport for years, with repeated opposition from gamers, followers and golf equipment. The plan went by way of this time after UEFA granted it permission, reportedly citing a scarcity of clear guidelines from FIFA to dam such video games.
The sport is on the heart of ever-shifting politics between a set of golf equipment and governing our bodies, however the finish result’s a sport that Tebas sees as an annual occasion for the league, and one which gamers aren't taking mendacity down.
The union's full assertion saying the protests, interpreted with Google Translate:
The Spanish Football Gamers' Affiliation, with the assist of the Spanish First Division captains, declares that, throughout all matches comparable to the ninth spherical of the Spanish Nationwide First Division League Championship, firstly of every match, the gamers will symbolically protest in protest of LALIGA's lack of transparency, dialogue, and consistency relating to the potential for enjoying a contest match in the USA.
The union has determined to exclude the gamers from FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF, the golf equipment requesting the venture, from the initiative, regardless of sharing the underlying place and significant factors. That is to stop the protest motion from being interpreted as a possible measure in opposition to any membership.
Within the face of LALIGA's persistent refusals and unrealistic proposals, the Spanish Football Gamers' Affiliation categorically rejects a venture that lacks the approval of the principle gamers in our sport and calls for that the employers' affiliation create a negotiating desk the place all info is shared and the distinctive traits of the venture are analyzed, the wants and considerations of footballers are addressed, and the safety of their labor rights and compliance with present laws are assured.
