In protest, both Real Oviedo and Espanyol players refused to play the first 30 seconds of Friday’s La Liga match at the Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere. It was eventually played, and Espanyol won 2-0 away – but why was there a half-minute delay?
To ensure that the protest was restricted, La Liga chose not to broadcast the first 20 seconds of the match, preventing fans at home from witnessing the aforementioned protest in action. Instead, for the first half-minute or so, the TV broadcast featured a silhouette of Real Oviedo’s 30,500-seat stadium, as shown above.
Why Real Oviedo and Espanyol Players Stood Still for 30 Seconds
It was an unusual sight: the time started to tick after referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer blew his whistle as usual. The players, on the other hand, stood still and gazed around at each other in solidarity, while the managers on the sidelines crossed their arms and waited for the action to begin. However, it will be a sight that became familiar over the weekend.
The reason all 22 players refused to move in the first 30 seconds was due to La Liga’s plan to hold a regular season game, Barcelona’s match against Villarreal on Saturday, December 20, in Miami. According to The Guardian, this could be a trend witnessed throughout Spain this weekend as players try to hammer home their point.
According to the article, players intend to halt for at least 15 seconds after kickoff in ninth-round matches, which will take place from Friday to Monday.
In response to the announcement, the players’ union said in a statement that “players will protest in a symbolic fashion to denounce La Liga’s lack of transparency, dialogue, and coherence regarding the possibility of playing a game in the United States.”
The union claimed that the captains of all 20 La Liga teams agreed that a protest was required to express their displeasure. However, the union clarified that Barcelona and Villarreal players have not been requested to participate, despite the fact that they “share the basic premise of the protest.”
Barcelona’s match against Villarreal has been handpicked to take place in Miami, Florida. They are not the only sides that have been subjected to an unusual venue change; UEFA has also granted Serie A permission to hold AC Milan’s match against FC Como in Perth, Australia.
Earlier on Friday, Barcelona’s Hansi Flick revealed that club officials were dissatisfied with the fact that they would have to travel 7,200km (4,500 miles) for an ordinary La Liga match. “My players are not happy, and neither am I, but La Liga has decided that we will play this game,” the German tactician remarked during a press conference.
Elsewhere, Barcelona’s Joan Laporta supports the proposal since it is an opportunity for the Blaugrana to make a dent in the American sports market. The event will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, which is home to the Miami Dolphins. La Liga has chartered flights for between two and three thousand Villarreal fans to Florida.
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