Player Union condemns the La Liga decision, claiming it puts Real Madrid players at risk
Spanish Players Union (AFE) head David Aganzo has denounced the decision not to delay Real Madrid’s opening La Liga game for the season, claiming it would “put the players’ health at risk.”
Madrid will face Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, August 19th, 41 days after competing in the semi-finals of the US Club World Cup They were beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain.
The club had asked for the game to be repositioned as the Spanish football collective bargaining agreement stipulates that it will be 42 days for summer vacation, 21 days for full rest, and another 21 days for 21 days to accumulate fitness ahead of the new season.
However, the Madrid incident was abandoned yesterday by Spanish Football Federation Judge Jose Alberto Peraes.
Real Madrid player at risk – Aganzo
Aganzo was not impressed and told the newspaper:
“Players are soccer workers and it makes no sense to force situations where health is at risk.”
Aganzo said the situation had been flagged in advance.
He added: “If Real Madrid or Atletico reaches the final stages of the Club World Cup, the collective agreement includes 21 consecutive days of vacation and warns that it will not comply with respecting players’ physical preparation without putting their health at risk.
“So we’re talking to the captains of both teams and establishing a minimum contract that La Liga hasn’t considered, that’s a resolution that’s stuck in the past. If you’re talking about competition that doesn’t mean anything, you’re not moving forward.
“We sent our position in writing to Laliga after some conversation, but they acted unilaterally without considering the players.
“We are disappointed because we should work on protecting players for the sake of competition. The two things are incompatible.”
Real Madrid plays last
The Madrid game is the last game to be staged over the opening weekend of the new season.
Barcelona, the defending champion who did not play in the Club World Cup, will open in Real Mallorca on August 16th, with Atleti going to Espanyol a day later.