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| Racing Santander captain Mario Fernandez informs referee Gil Manzano his team will not be competing. |
I’m shocked and surprised at the
faux pas outrage and solidarity shown by many Irish football fans across social media
in light of the actions of Racing Santander’s squad last night.
The third-tier
Spanish side were due to play in their Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg
fixture against Real Sociedad , last night. However, the players formed a
semi-circle, arms linked in unity, at the centre circle of the pitch as soon as
the referee, Gil Manzano, blew his whistle to commence the match.
The protest stems
from a dispute between players and the club’s president Angel Larvin over
unpaid wages. Racing Santander have fallen on hard times after two consecutive
relegations, the club now faces it’s most challenging battle as they are
currently in administration.
As Chris Hughton, current Norwich
City
The squad gave forewarning of their protest at the start of the week, stating that they would refuse to play the match if president Lavin and the rest of the board didn’t resign.
A semi-final encounter against a highly acclaimedBarcelona side was
on offer if they overcame their difficulties, both on and off the pitch.
However, this was never a realistic option.
RacingSantander
were trailing 3-1 from the first leg of the quarter-final. The second-leg was a
peculiar scene in modern football awash with money. After Real Sociedad had a
short spell of possession, unchallenged, the Racing Santander captain Mario
Fernandez informed the officials that his side would no longer partake in the
match.
The players are facing immense financial struggles. Their club captain is currently living at the clubs training ground as he cannot afford the upkeep of his house.
The squad gave forewarning of their protest at the start of the week, stating that they would refuse to play the match if president Lavin and the rest of the board didn’t resign.
A semi-final encounter against a highly acclaimed
Racing
The players are facing immense financial struggles. Their club captain is currently living at the clubs training ground as he cannot afford the upkeep of his house.
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| Racing Santander players leave the field of play. |
Luis Rubiales, head of the
Association of Spanish Footballers, met the Racing players and coaching staff
in Santander on Thursday, and said they had the "complete backing" of
his union.
It is expected that all football
bodies in Spain
and abroad will support the plight of the players. Although, the general outcry
from armchair pundits at home in Ireland
is baffling.
Complaints are coming from the same people who digest football purely provided to them by British broadcasting companies such as Sky or BT Sports. They cannot claim to have a loyalty to foreign teams inBritain.
They turn their back on the indigenous league inIreland .
They let local players suffer the same fate as these Spanish sportsmen.
Why? Because it’s much more convenient conveying dismay at the state of the game while sitting in the comfort of their home watching over-hyped and over-commercialised football from the English Premier League.
If true fans of football really want the financial woes to be eradicated, the mindset must be changed from the ground level. Support your local team. Let football thrive in your own city.
If all football fans were to adopt this lifestyle, football would return to its roots. We need to stop looking at football as a business, and return to looking at it as a sport.
Complaints are coming from the same people who digest football purely provided to them by British broadcasting companies such as Sky or BT Sports. They cannot claim to have a loyalty to foreign teams in
They turn their back on the indigenous league in
Why? Because it’s much more convenient conveying dismay at the state of the game while sitting in the comfort of their home watching over-hyped and over-commercialised football from the English Premier League.
If true fans of football really want the financial woes to be eradicated, the mindset must be changed from the ground level. Support your local team. Let football thrive in your own city.
If all football fans were to adopt this lifestyle, football would return to its roots. We need to stop looking at football as a business, and return to looking at it as a sport.
S.DAWSON 31/01/14
