Xabi Alonso backs La Liga player protest against Miami match

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has voiced support for La Liga players protesting the league’s controversial decision to stage a match in Miami, USA.

La Liga confirmed last week that Barcelona’s away fixture against Villarreal, scheduled for December 20, will take place in Miami, marking the first-ever European league match to be played abroad.

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In response, the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) announced a “symbolic protest” to be staged before every La Liga match this week.

Players from Oviedo and Espanyol demonstrated by standing still for the first 15 seconds of their game on Friday, although the gesture was not shown on broadcast coverage.

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“We are against the match; we believe it distorts the competition,” Alonso said during his pre-match press conference.

“There hasn’t been unanimity or proper consultation for it to be played on neutral ground. The protests are positive, and that sentiment is positive.”

The Real Madrid boss added that while such international ventures could be considered in the future, they should only happen with full agreement among clubs and players.

“We believe it could happen if there were unanimity, but that’s not the case right now,” Alonso stated.

Alonso’s comments come ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Getafe on Sunday, where he confirmed that Kylian Mbappé is expected to return from an ankle issue that ruled him out of France’s recent World Cup qualifier against Iceland.

“Everyone who went with their national teams, except Dean (Huijsen), has returned in good condition,” Alonso said.