Real Madrid Confidencial AFE explodes against LaLiga over Real Madrid-Osasuna: They broke all the rules
David Aganzo, president of AFE, has criticized La Liga for not postponing matchday 1 of La Liga
The Real Madrid-Osasuna match has been a scandal. That's how AFE sees it, as they don't understand how the match date was allowed to be kept with Madrid just returning from the Club World Cup: “None of what was agreed upon has been respected,” the union says.
They've been warning about it for days: there isn't enough time for rest or preparation. Nobody has wanted to listen. For them, that's not just a mistake, it's a clear risk to the footballers' health.
David Aganzo, AFE president, has been blunt: “This goes beyond soccer. The players are workers, and as such, their rights must be guaranteed. Health is above any schedule.”
“We Feel Cheated”
The union states that in May a verbal agreement was reached with LaLiga. The commitment was clear: if Madrid or Atlético reached the final stage of the Club World Cup, their first matchday games would be postponed. AFE explains that there were even conversations with the captains of both teams and a minimum of three weeks of rest and another three of preseason were agreed upon.
According to Aganzo, LaLiga broke that commitment: “They haven't respected the agreement. We submitted it in writing on May 16 and they never replied. They acted on their own, without considering the players,” he criticizes.
AFE also points out that, with this decision, LaLiga breaks the Collective Agreement. Although it doesn't mention an exact number of weeks for preseason, it does include basic labor rights, such as 21 consecutive days of vacation: “Are we going to start LaLiga one day after returning from vacation? It's absurd”, the president insists.
“This Isn't About Politics, It's About Health”
The union also laments the politicization of the schedule: “There are too many wars between institutions. FIFA, UEFA, LaLiga… but in the end, the ones who suffer are the players,” Aganzo warns. AFE calls for an international consensus table to unify criteria regarding rest periods.
In addition, they denounce that the argument of having 25 registered players and relying on the reserve team isn't valid. “Here we're talking about a full group coming back after a demanding tournament. You can't improvise.”
AFE makes it clear that they won't give in: “We'll keep fighting. This isn't just about this match, it's about the respect footballers deserve. Without health, there's no soccer.”
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