Oviedo and Espanyol players protest Villarreal-Barcelona match in Miami as La Liga censors video | OneFootball

La Liga action officially resumed yesterday after the international break, with Real Oviedo and Espanyol kicking off matchday 9.

What seemed like a routine fixture quickly turned into a surprising moment of protest that has since made headlines across Spanish football.

As soon as the referee, Mateo Busquets, blew his whistle to start the match, both Oviedo and Espanyol players stopped playing for around 15–20 seconds.

The gesture was a coordinated protest against La Liga’s decision to stage the Villarreal vs Barcelona fixture on December 20 in Miami, instead of at Villarreal’s home ground, Estadio de la Ceramica.

The protest, organised by the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE), was meant to highlight the players’ discontent with the league’s decision to move a domestic fixture abroad.

Players unite against decision

According to the AFE, this protest will continue across all La Liga matches throughout the weekend.

However, players from Barcelona and Villarreal have been excluded from the initiative “to avoid the protest action being interpreted as a possible measure against any club.”

The union’s stance is clear that they believe the league’s decision was made without consulting the players, who are directly affected by such scheduling changes.

In their official statement, the AFE said, “The Spanish Footballers’ Association categorically rejects a project that does not have the approval of the main players in our sport.

“We demand that the employers’ association set up a negotiating table at which all information is shared and the exceptional characteristics of the project are analysed, the needs and concerns of the players are addressed, and the protection of their labour rights and compliance with current regulations are guaranteed.”

The statement also criticised the proposed meeting dates set by La Liga, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week, arguing that they were scheduled even before the AFE publicly voiced its objections on October 8.

In response, La Liga reminded players and the AFE that it has contributed more than €100 million to the association over the past decade.

Despite this, tensions remain high between the league and the players’ union, as both sides prepare for further discussions on how Spanish football should handle overseas matches in the future.