Players stand still after kick-off in protest in 🇪🇸, find out why | OneFootball

A wave of protests has marked this round of La Liga. In several matches, the players stand STILL for about 20 seconds.

The reason is the upcoming Barcelona vs. Villarreal match in Miami, United States, in December. This idea was approved by La Liga and UEFA.

The official broadcast showed an aerial view of the Montjuic Olympic Stadium precisely to avoid showing the protest.

The Girona players, for example, stood still for 20 seconds after the opening whistle precisely in the match against Barça.

This protest had already happened in Oviedo 0 x 2 Espanyol and Sevilla 1 x 3 Mallorca. And it is expected to be repeated in the upcoming matches.

📸 Juan Manuel Serrano Arce - 2025 Getty Images

Even before these protests, holding Barça vs. Villarreal OUTSIDE Spain had already been the target of criticism.

"We are against the match because it corrupts the competition. There was no consultation, and the protests are positive. There is no unanimity," said Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso this Saturday (18).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 David Ramos - 2025 Getty Images