Key Takeaways:
- La Liga confirmed plans to sue the AFE following player protests over the cancelled Miami match last weekend
- The league claims these protests amounted to an “illegal strike”, an allegation firmly denied by AFE president David Aganzo
- Villarreal’s CEO held Real Madrid responsible for the project’s failure, criticising their opposition and involvement in the dispute
Legal Dispute Erupts Following Cancelled Overseas Match
La Liga is set to pursue legal proceedings against the Spanish players’ union (AFE) in the wake of coordinated protests that led to the cancellation of the highly-debated league fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona, initially scheduled for Miami. Reports from Mundo Deportivo indicate that a fractious meeting between league officials and the union preceded this escalation, with La Liga branding the protests as an unlawful strike.
🚨 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡: La Liga is taking the players to court due to the protests they began last week not to play the first 20 seconds of games.
— @diarioas pic.twitter.com/5isFSqaFx2
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) October 23, 2025
The player protests took the form of a 15-second standstill by all top-flight teams at the start of their matches last weekend. League president Javier Tebas, while refraining from public comment, reportedly conveyed to AFE president David Aganzo that the demonstrations were classified by the league as a strike. Aganzo responded by refuting this interpretation, characterising the gesture as a statement highlighting a “lack of transparency” in the league’s decision-making process.
Union and League Positions Hardening
Following discussions, Aganzo confirmed that La Liga had asserted its intention to refer the matter to the judicial system, despite the official cancellation of the fixture. Aganzo stated: “We also discussed how he said we were on strike, and we simply made a gesture that had nothing to do with the strike,” adding, “According to him, it will be resolved in court. He made it very clear that a court will decide.”
The AFE president reiterated that the core concern for the union was the decision to schedule an overseas fixture without consultation with the players, marking what would have been the first La Liga match staged outside Spain. Stressing the need for transparency and inclusive dialogue, Aganzo stated: “This meeting should have been held much earlier and not when it was cancelled. We pointed out the lack of transparency… I insist that these projects require conversation with everyone, with maximum transparency and information to make a significant project happen.” He continued to defend the union’s position, asserting: “I’m looking out for the players, for their labour rights… We’ve come to defend our rights.”
Villarreal Rounded On Real Madrid Over Collapse
The fallout extended to simmering tensions between clubs, with Villarreal CEO Fernando Roig Negueroles launching scathing criticism at Real Madrid, whom he accused of orchestrating the collapse of the Miami project. Villarreal were designated as the home side for the prospective overseas encounter and had been strong advocates for the event.
Speaking with Radio Marca, Roig Negueroles directly attributed the breakdown to Real Madrid’s persistent opposition, stating: “LaLiga can make mistakes, but Real Madrid seems to be going against everyone.” He further lamented that Real Madrid enjoys disproportionate influence in Spanish football circles, despite waning trust in their stance at a European level. The capital club, he argued, has a record of protesting across the board, regardless of the proposal, even in cases where they initially provided approval. He added: “I agree with them on many of the things they protest about, but they lose legitimacy because they also protest absolutely everything that’s proposed… Even the things that are good, like how they approved this very match four years ago in a delegated committee. Now they’ve changed their minds… If something was good for Real Madrid, they would also protest.”
Timing of Cancellation Infuriates Villarreal
The controversy intensified when La Liga made the official announcement of the fixture’s cancellation during half-time of Villarreal’s Champions League clash with Manchester City. Manager Marcelino Garcia Toral voiced his deep dissatisfaction post-match, while the club issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the handling of the situation and the timing of communications. Villarreal had invested resources in the project and were in the process of arranging compensation for season-ticket holders when the announcement broke, leaving CEO Roig Negueroles visibly dismayed in the stands.
What Lies Ahead: Legal Proceedings and Domestic Repercussions
The cancelled fixture will now take place at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica as was originally planned. However, the disrupted relationship between La Liga and the AFE appears set to endure, as the league’s impending legal action could widen the rift between its administration and the players’ union. Aganzo acknowledged the divergent paths of both organisations but emphasised the necessity of fostering cooperation: “They are the employers’ association and we are the union. They have a line, I have mine. Together, we have to build a stronger football system to grow.”
This episode constitutes a significant blow to La Liga president Javier Tebas’s ambitions for international growth while representing a notable, though contentious, assertion of the union’s influence. The outcome of the imminent court proceedings will determine the long-term implications for relationships within Spanish football’s most prominent institutions.
