 "Why Barcelona and Girona players stood still for 15 seconds despite kick-off in La Liga match")
The kick off in the Barcelona vs Girona La Liga match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Saturday (18 October) witnessed a unique protest from players as there was no action in the first 15 seconds of the match.
It wasn’t the only La Liga match on Saturday to witness such a protest, as all four games started with players not playing until 15 seconds after the kick-off. Besides Barcelona-Girona, the other three games were Oviedo vs Espanyol, Sevilla vs Mallorca and Villareal vs Real Betis.
Why did Barcelona and Girona players stand still for 15 seconds after kick-off?
The reasons players did not play until 15 seconds after the kickoff in La Liga matches were to protest against the league’s decision to host a game between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami, USA, in December.
The Barcelona vs Villarreal game in Miami would not be a friendly but a regular La Liga match. This will be the first time in the history of La Liga that a league game will be played outside Spain.
La Liga’s decision has faced resistance from fans and clubs like Real Madrid. However, the match has been approved by the European footballing body, UEFA, which said that it had no regulatory powers to stop it from taking place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.
Flick gets red card as Barcelona beat Girona
The match eventually ended with Barcelona winning 2-1 as Ronald Araújo scored the winner in the stoppage time. Pedri had opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 13th minute before Axel Witsel scored the equaliser in the 20th minute.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was sent off during the match after receiving two yellow cards, reportedly for complaining that the referee did not add more than four minutes of injury time.
Flick will not be on the touchline when Barcelona take on Real Madrid in the El Clásico on 26 October in La Liga.
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