Spanish Court Rules Players' Miami Match Protest Not an Illegal Strike

The Spanish National Court has rejected a lawsuit filed by La Liga, which sought to declare a 15-second stoppage by players in October 2024 as an illegal strike. The Social Chamber concluded that the protest action represented an exercise of the legally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and trade union freedom. This stance was defended by the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) during the trial held on March 25.

The protest incidents occurred between October 17 and 20 during Matchday 9 of the Spanish La Liga, when players decided to briefly stop play. This action was a clear expression of their categorical rejection of a proposal to hold a match between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami, USA. In this regard, the judicial authority determined that the initiative taken by the professionals did not exceed the boundaries of legitimate expression of opinion and did not constitute a breach of contractual obligations stipulated in domestic competitions.

The Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office supported the request to dismiss La Liga's lawsuit, which had claimed that the players' actions caused material damages amounting to 8.7 million euros. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the proposed Miami match eventually concluded with its cancellation, effectively ending the legal proceedings that had targeted the players' trade union movement and those defending their rights during that period.