Soccer players want to stop: “We are people and not immune”

The Spanish players that make up the professional clubs of the main national categories are increasingly safer and more united around the same idea: go beyond the two days decreed behind closed doors and stop the competition for the Coronavirus crisis. In fact, Getafe players have already refused to travel to Milan to play against Inter and LaLiga already plans to stop the championship shortly. Many professionals consulted recognize it off the record without wanting to alarm, others are already sliding it in their statements in the media and on social networks and all, absolutely all those consulted today by the Association of Spanish Soccer Players agree on the approach: “Why do we play behind closed doors and the competition is not suspended as has been done in other categories? Are we not all the same? Is the health of a 15-year-old child whom they have sent home and not trained today, with all the logic of the world, more important than that of an adult of 24? We are people before football players and we are not immune to diseases. “

The footballers, represented by several active players on the board of directors of AFE, believe that we must put themselves in the hands of the specialists and act according to the Government and health institutions. However, the concern is making a dent and they don't stop asking for information from their union because they don't understand the current situation. They would not like to verify that the decisions that are being made have to do with other interests (money, televisions, football as a distraction from citizens …) and not with health. “We don't want to feel used,” summary. One of them, captain of a Second team, goes further: “They will ignore us until a footballer is infected, something that can happen because of a simple statistical question. Hopefully not.” Aganzo is blunt: “If the competition is not suspended we will take action …”.

“There is fear of contagion and not all clubs are Barça, Madrid or Atlético, which often travel by charter,” says another reputed captain of one of the first European teams. Numerous teams move by train and there they coincide with people who, perfectly, can be infected without even having been treated. The panic of soccer players, such as that of the general population, focuses on the risk of contagion due to the consequences it may have for some family members with various pathologies. According to any of these cases consulted, if there were total freedom of decision and there were no consequences, nobody would want to play this weekend. The problem with that, as in any other job, would be that a unilateral decision of that draft would be understood in the clubs as neglecting work occupations and as unjustified abandonment of the job, which could lead to penalties and, taken to a case extreme, even layoffs coming. Although players can not telework like other citizens and although we are talking about exceptional measures that concern health.

Three letters from AFE to CSD, RFEF and LaLiga

The Association of Spanish Footballers has sent different letters to the Higher Sports Council (CSD), Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga on Tuesday in which moves a strong proposal: immediately suspend all games of all categories in Spanish football.

The soccer union has issued a statement explaining its reasons. This is the full text with which they have addressed these institutions in relation to the expansion of Covid-19:

“Given the measures that are being taken by the Government, and the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), in relation not only to the fact of activities with the public, but especially in the condition of workers, and collecting the feeling as a union for the purposes, we request that the measures that are carried out be presided over by the guarantee of minimum risk of the players of all categories. And for this, expressly, we have requested the suspension of ALL the parties, of ALL divisions and of ALL categories of both sexes.

Given the situation, we have made this request thinking exclusively about the health of the players, groups we represent. And what is not of receipt is that this fact is not taken into account, beyond which we understand it is necessary to avoid large agglomerations due to the increased risk that this entails. A risk that is not only avoided with the absence of public in the parties. In addition, playing by system in fields closed to the public for several weeks undermines the meaning of sports competitions.

On the other hand, we want to insist on the importance of having football players informed with a fluid dialogue between sports agents. Any player who has any questions or problems in this regard, can contact our association. Finally, to influence the importance of the responsibility that all sports agents have for the protection of public health and the prevention of contagion. “

Several teams claim suspension

In addition to the union, several clubs have formally requested the suspension of First and Second Division in the 28th and 29th days of the championship. The position they have taken around the subject reflects two of the visions that are becoming more widespread in the world of sports. Celta, meanwhile, believes that “football without fans is pointless and playing behind closed doors is totally inappropriate.”

On the contrary, Zaragoza has issued an official statement in which it considers that “only in this way will the essence of football be guaranteed and the health of all players, soccer players and fans will be safeguarded.” “The protocol proposed by the Higher Sports Council and communicated by LaLiga to Real Zaragoza does not resolve the fundamental issue of guaranteeing the health of the protagonists,” the entity closes.

Oviedo collects both positions: “The argument for the request for the postponement of both meetings addresses two reasons: to guarantee the health of players, coaching staff, and staff who work on match days at the Carlos Tartiere stadium; and the damage it entails for our fans, which in each game shows their support for the team and the entity, and they are seriously harmed by the decision to play the games behind closed doors. It is understood that both games should be played on other dates, and with public in the stands. ” In addition, he urges his rivals to share his proposal.

Las Palmas speaks of “inability to dispute in normal circumstances” his match against Girona and asks to postpone the duel. Deportivo also joins the general claim: “Dozens of professionals who make it possible to hold a LaLiga match should be protected. “The Galician club adds that it must be postponed” until this crisis is over. “In addition to football, basketball clubs such as Obradoiro or Montakit Fuenlabrada have issued their position in social networks.