Barça were due to play away at Villarreal on Dec. 20, but the league have relocated the fixture to the Hard Rock Stadium on the same date, with tickets due to go on sale next week.
The Spanish Footballers’ Association [AFE] announced Friday that that a protest would be carried out by players this weekend aimed at the league’s “lack of transparency, dialogue and coherence” in staging the Miami game.
The AFE didn’t say what the protest would be, but on Friday, in the first LaLiga game of the weekend — Real Oviedo vs. Espanyol — the two teams paused for the first 15 seconds.
The AFE said Barça and Villarreal players would not be forced to join in the protest, given it could put them in an uncomfortable position with their clubs, but confirmed that they were in support of the action.
However, as Girona kicked off and then paused for 15 seconds at the Olympic Stadium, Barça’s players did the same, remaining still until the away team started to play.
LaLiga have been trying to take a game to the United States since 2017, but now look to be in a position to finally pull it off after receiving approval from the Spanish Football Federation [RFEF], who already stage the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia, and UEFA.
While Barça and Villarreal as clubs have agreed to participate, other teams in LaLiga are against the plans.
Real Madrid have been the fiercest critics, saying it will “give an undue sporting advantage” to the teams involved and “sets an unacceptable precedent.”
Even Barça midfielder Frenkie de Jong has said he does not support the plans, acknowledging Madrid’s concerns that it favours Barça as they get to play an away game on neutral territory.
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Following the on-pitch protests this weekend, it is unclear what steps the AFE could take next.