Competition rejects postponing Sevilla-Barça and Villarreal-Alavés; LaLiga will contest

New setback in the LaLiga conflict with the national team stoppage involving the players of the CONMEBOL teams. As AS has learned, and in the absence of official status, the Competition Committee denies Tebas to postpone Sevilla-Barcelona and Villarreal-Alavés and they will have to play on the weekend of September 10 to 12, when it corresponds to the fourth working day. For its part, LaLiga does not consider the case lost and will present an appeal to the CSD.

The Competition Committee is based on point 3 of Article 239 of the General Regulations of the RFEF, which explains the following: “In no case may the clubs invoke as force majeure to request such suspension and such postponement of a match the circumstance of not being able to align certain players because they are subject to federative suspension, due to illness or injury, or because they have been called to intervene. in their national teams. On the other hand, it will be considered as force majeure the fact that due to unforeseeable circumstances, a number of footballers that reduce the squad to less than eleven are simultaneously dismissed “.

LaLiga shows its dissatisfaction with the decision in a statement

LaLiga expresses its absolute disagreement with the Resolution of the President of the Competition Committee, issued by delegation of the President of the RFEF, to reject the postponement requests submitted by both Villarreal CF regarding the Villarreal CF – Deportivo Alavés match set for Saturday 11 September at 6:30 p.m., as Sevilla FC for the Sevilla FC – FC Barcelona match, set for Saturday, September 11 at 9:00 p.m., and by LaLiga, organizer of this competition. The reason for these requests is to be able to maintain the integrity of the competition as a consequence of the extension of the FIFA period in September (CONMEBOL confederation) established by Circular 1776 of August 13, setting the end of said period on Thursday September 9 ( early morning on Friday the 10th in Europe, many players landing in Spain on Saturday morning and having to play games hours later).

Finally, these requests have been rejected when considering, inexplicably, that based on article 239 of the General Regulations of the RFEF, the circumstances raised are not identified as a cause of force majeure, motivated by an unforeseeable circumstance such as the current one that goes beyond of the mere summons of the players in the manner established by the regulations. In this sense, with this resolution of the RFEF (FIFA representative in Spain), the approach made by FIFA itself to oppose the precautionary measure requested by LaLiga before the CAS is being contradicted, indicating that it was easier for LaLiga to postpone these matches. that for FIFA to postpone those of the CONMEBOL qualifiers.

For all these reasons, LaLiga will challenge the aforementioned resolution considering it is not in accordance with the law.

LaLiga, which will make private charters available to the players involved so that they can return on time, modified the schedule of the matches of the fourth day. Delaying the start of this until Saturday afternoon and playing the bulk of the games on Sunday and Monday afternoon-night.

The conflict

LaLiga presented a battle to FIFA and CONMEBOL for the national team stoppage. He denounced before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), without success, the decision of FIFA to extend the number of days and matches (from two to three) for the concentrations of the South American teams in September and October. Some dates in which the qualifying phases for the next World Cup in Qatar are disputed. An extension that puts at risk that South American players arrive in time to play the fourth day of LaLiga Santander and which led to requesting the Competition to postpone Villarreal-Alavés and Sevilla-Barcelona corresponding to that weekend.

The reason for requesting such postponements lies in the difficulty for the CONMEBOL national team players to return in time to play for their clubs (it should be remembered that the teams are obliged to give up their players to the senior teams when so required). The last match of the qualifying phase for the World Cup in Qatar of the CONMEBOL countries will take place from early morning from Thursday to Friday. Which would lead to the return of the 28 LaLiga players involved could not be back in Spain until Friday night or the same Saturday. Which would prevent anyone from arriving in time to play. Or what if they are on time, are not in the ideal conditions. “It is clear that they will not be able to compete on equal terms with their clubs. And in October we will face this nonsense again,” they report to LaLiga.

However, Everything complicates that on the following Tuesday and Wednesday, September 14 and 15 respectively, the first day of the Champions League will be played. This makes it impossible for Sevilla, Villarreal and Barcelona, ​​who will play on Tuesday, to play their league match on Sunday (due to rest). What would force to play on saturday. Day on which the CONMEBOL footballers would return, if they arrive on time.

LaLiga players involved

Argentina: Rulli, Montiel, Pezella, Foyth, Acuña, De Paul, Gido Rodríguez, Papu Gómez and Correa.

Brazil: Casemiro, Militao and Vinicius

chili: Claudio Bravo, Enzo Roco and Alarcón.

Ecuador: Stupiñán.

Paraguay: Alderete and Arzamendia.

Peru: Tapia and Abram.

Uruguay: Luis Suárez, Giménez, Araujo, Arambarri, Valverde, Brian Rodríguez and Maxi Gómez.

Venezuela: Machís and Alexander.