La Liga players began protests against the league’s decision to hold regular season games in Miami, but the first protest on Friday was not shown on live television as expected.
On the world television feed of the game real oviedo against espanyol The stadium’s exterior was cut off for the first 25 seconds of the game, with players stopping for the initial 15 seconds in protest of plans to move the game to the United States.
The game came just hours after the Spanish football players’ union announced that there would be protests straight after kick-off in the ninth round of games from Friday to Monday.
, Spanish players’ union against Barca playing in America
, Barca in Miami: Why FIFA, UEFA allow leagues to play abroad
, LaLiga confirms historic Barca league game in America
The players’ union said in a statement that “the players will protest in a symbolic way to condemn LaLiga’s lack of transparency, dialogue and coherence regarding the possibility of playing the game in the United States.”
LaLiga Made official last week It is planned to be held barcelona,Villarreal Game in Miami on December 20.
The union said the captains of the 20 top-flight sides agreed with the protest. But the union said it had not asked Barcelona and Villarreal players to take part in the protests, although the union said “they share the basic premise of the protest.”
barcelona host girona and Villarreal host real daughters On Saturday.
Earlier on Friday, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and his players were not happy about having to travel 7,200 kilometers (4,500 miles) to play a regular season game.
“My players are not happy, I’m not happy, but LaLiga decided that we will play this game,” Flick said at a press conference in response to a question about his position on the game.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta defended the move, saying it represented an opportunity to expand further into the American sports market.
But for Flick and his players, it represents additional travel before a short winter break. Barcelona will also travel to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup starting on January 7.
barcelona midfielder frankie de jong also criticized playing the game in the United States, saying players are already burdened with travel and a packed sports calendar.
Like Barcelona, Villarreal was also playing in the Champions League.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas has defended the game abroad as a way to increase “revenues in the mid to long term” and increase the value of television rights to his competition, which is lagging behind England. Premier League,
Tebas said the league plans to make an international match an annual event.
The match will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, the home of the NFL. miami dolphins,
The league, which has chartered planes to fly them to Florida, estimates Villarreal, the home team, will have 2,000 to 3,000 fans.
