LA LIGA PLAYERS PROTEST OVER US MATCH FIXTURE

La Liga is under fire from its own players following a controversial decision to stage an official league match outside Spain for the first time.

The move to play the match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami on 20 December has sparked symbolic protests across matches this weekend.

During several matches played over the weekend, players in Spain's top two divisions delayed kick-offs by about 15 seconds to express frustration with La Liga’s leadership.

The protests were coordinated by the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE), and the aim was to highlight what the union calls a lack of transparency and dialogue from the league.

“La Liga continues to push decisions that directly affect players, without involving them in the process,” the AFE said in a statement. “We categorically reject a project that lacks the support of football’s main protagonists.”

While La Liga president Javier Tebas described the US match as a "bold, historic" step to expand the league’s global footprint, many players and supporters in Spain view it as a move that prioritises commercial interests over the domestic game.

In a bid to avoid misinterpretation, players from Barcelona and Villarreal were exempted from protesting. Teams like Girona, Espanyol, and Oviedo took part.

With La Liga hoping for massive international growth, the protests reflect growing tensions between the league’s ambitions and its responsibility to the players and fans at home.

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