Spanish Players Association Opposes Playing La Liga Matches in USA
The Spanish Footballers Association (or Asociación de Futbolistaas Españoles) released a statement decrying the possibility of playing La Liga matches outside of Spain.
The association is responding to La Liga's announcement that it has entered a 15-year partnership with Relevent, a U.S.-based sports and entertainment group. Relevent is aiming to stage matches from Spain's top division in the United States and Canada.
"In reference to the agreement made between La Liga and the company Relevent, which includes that an official league match will be played in the United States, the AFE strongly objects," the statement from AFE reads. "As per usual, La Liga has dispensed with the opinions of the players and has undertaken actions that only benefit them, regardless of the health or risks to the players, and even less the feelings of the following masses of the clubs who are being "forced" to compete in North America once a season. Faced with such manifest arbitrariness, David Aganzo, president of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), makes his complaint public and points out that "the footballer is not a currency that can be used in businesses that only benefit third parties. United we are stronger."
Five years ago, Relevent founded the International Champions Cup, a series of friendlies featuring several top-flight European clubs played in other countries.
