LaLiga takes players to court over alleged illegal strike action
Spanish league escalates dispute over players' 15-second protest, claiming it violated labour laws and contributed to Miami match cancellation.
The ongoing battle between LaLiga and its players has taken another twist as the league heads to the courts over what it deems an illegal strike action from earlier this season.
From protest to courtroom
LaLiga has decided to escalate its complaint against footballers who participated in a 15-second protest at the beginning of matchday nine fixtures. Players stood motionless after kick-off in what the league now claims was an unauthorized strike action.
This protest has been identified as one of the contributing factors behind the collapse of plans to stage the Villarreal vs Barcelona match in Miami - a pet project of LaLiga president Javier Tebas that’s now gone right down the khazi.
Tebas on the warpath
Speaking at a recent Europa Press breakfast event, Tebas didn’t mince his words about the player protest:
“What I want to know is if stopping a match for 15 seconds breaks labour regulations,” he stated, clearly miffed that such actions could disrupt matches under the guise of freedom of expression.
The LaLiga president further twisted the knife by suggesting the players’ union should be rolling out the red carpet for the league, pointing out that 70% of audiovisual rights revenue goes directly to player salaries. Apparently, he made similar comments directly to AFE president David Aganzo during December discussions.
Legal escalation
The employer’s association had already filed a complaint with Spain’s Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA) but has now decided to take the matter before the courts. According to reports, the players’ union AFE hasn’t yet received formal notification of this legal action.
For their part, the union maintains the brief stoppage was merely “an exercise in freedom of expression and a symbolic protest” that neither altered gameplay nor affected the competition.
This latest development suggests the relationship between Spanish football’s governing body and its players remains proper frosty, with neither side showing signs of backing down.