A Spanish first division match between Real Oviedo and Espanyol stopped briefly on Friday night after players staged a protest. The players refused to play for the first 15 seconds of the game to show their opposition to LaLiga’s plan to host a match in Miami.
Fans inside the stadium watched in silence as the players stood still. However, television viewers did not see the protest because the league’s global broadcast showed shots of the stadium exterior for the first 25 seconds.
Before kickoff, Spain’s players’ union released a statement. It said the protest was a symbolic move against LaLiga’s “lack of transparency, dialogue and coherence” over the idea of playing a league match in the United States.
Earlier this month, UEFA approved LaLiga’s plan to stage a competitive match at the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium. The game will feature Barcelona and Villarreal. Many other Spanish clubs have voiced concern about the decision, saying it sets a bad example.
Similar protests are expected across other LaLiga games this weekend. Players want to highlight their frustration with the growing match schedule. Both Barcelona and Villarreal are competing in the expanded Champions League this season, and Barcelona will also travel to Saudi Arabia in January for the Supercopa de España.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has openly criticized the Miami match. He questioned the decision to send his team on a 4,500-mile trip during a demanding part of the season. “My players are not happy. I am not happy. But LaLiga decided that we will play this game,” Flick said.
Despite the criticism from players, coaches, and fans, LaLiga remains firm in its plan to stage more games abroad. In 2019, the Supercopa de España was changed from a single match to a four-team tournament and moved to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Miami game is another step in that direction. LaLiga president Javier Tebas believes the move will help grow the league’s global audience and increase revenue in the long run. With plans to make overseas matches a yearly event, LaLiga shows no sign of slowing down its global push.
