Athletic dressing room tension as players refuse media duties over internal club issue | OneFootball

Athletic are in the midst of internal tension after the first team refused all post-match media duties, a team spokesperson stated that the silence was due to an internal club issue.

President Jon Uriarte did not attend the game. Players applauded their supporters, then declined interviews with rights holders, the club’s own channels and reporters in the mixed zone, a situation not previously seen. Pre-arranged interviews from recent days have also been postponed without a new date.

The backdrop is a decision to withdraw the six complimentary invitations each first-team player traditionally received for matches at San Mamés. The change also affects former presidents, employees, retirees and ex-players. Directors have given up their allocations and visiting teams now receive the LaLiga minimum of 30.

Players were informed of the withdrawal by general director Jon Berasategi and are awaiting a meeting with Uriarte in the coming days. From this season they retain only a preferential right to buy tickets, with free invitations removed.

The blackout could hit audiovisual income, since LaLiga assigns 500 points per match based on clubs’ collaboration with broadcasts, and Athletic usually finish among the leaders.

Head coach Edin Terzic addressed only the match, noting they made life difficult for Barça before control was lost after the break. He said Camp Nou is likely the league’s toughest away trip, added that only two weeks have passed and stressed the team needs time, while accepting that immediate results are required.

Source: El Correo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”