Levante Players to Down Tools This Weekend

Levante’s players are sick of not getting paid. For two years now, they haven’t been paid properly. They’ve tried threatening to strike, only for the club to guarantee that money was on the way. It wasn’t. And they’ve tried demonstrations, like the one minute protest (above) where they allowed Deportivo’s Sergio to run through on goal unchallenged from kick off.

But still Levante’s players haven’t been paid.

And so this weekend they’ll actually go on strike. And their timing couldn’t be better.

Because this Sunday they’re supposed to be playing Real Madrid at the Bernabéu . The result doesn’t matter because Madrid are champions and Levante are relegated. The result literally makes no difference to anything. But it’s supposed to be Madrid’s title celebration, ticker tape and everything, and a Levante strike would ruin all that.

The Levante players have spoken to the Madrid players, who sympathize with their situation. It’s more about the massive PR that a strike would generate for Levante’s cause. So what form will the strike take exactly?

Two scenarios I’ve read are that either Levante’s players get ready for the game but refuse to come out of the dressing room. So no game. Or that only the legal minimum seven players actually travel to Madrid, the game kicks off, one of them fakes an injury and the game is abandoned. So no game.

At least not against Levante. There have been reports that Madrid will provide alternative entertainment for Madridistas by playing an exhibition game against their reserves. Or maybe even flying in Liverpool or Spurs or Porto. Which sounds unlikely at short notice.

Category: Spain La Liga