Racing players cede match in wages protest

Racing Santander, a soccer club with over a hundred years of history that has fallen on bad times, on Thursday scored a victory for dignity over the grotesque. The team showed up for the second leg of its quarterfinal King’s Cup match against Real Sociedad at its home ground, El Sardinero, with the heavens opening up in consonance with the occasion. The players took to the pitch, went through the pre-game rituals, and then declined to play in protest at the fact that the players, the manager and the technical staff have not been paid in months.

The referee blew his whistle to start the game, and Real Sociedad kicked off. The Racing players, meanwhile, remained huddled in the center of the pitch. After 40 seconds, a Real player kicked the ball out of play. The referee spoke to Racing’s captain to confirm his side would not contest the match then blew his whistle to end the game, the first leg of which Real had won 3-1.

Although warned beforehand of what was going to happen, and ignoring the heavy rain and the cold, some 7,000 fans turned up for the occasion to support their team and the dire situation it is facing. They clapped the players to show agreement with their act of defiance as they remained in the center of the pitch after the match was officially over, locked together as one.

The crowd applauded the players in agreement with their act of defiance

Racing Santander, a soccer club with over a hundred years of history that has fallen on bad times, on Thursday scored a victory for dignity over the grotesque. The team showed up for the second leg of its quarterfinal King’s Cup match against Real Sociedad at its home ground, El Sardinero, with the heavens opening up in consonance with the occasion. The players took to the pitch, went through the pre-game rituals, and then declined to play in protest at the fact that the players, the manager and the technical staff have not been paid in months.

The referee blew his whistle to start the game, and Real Sociedad kicked off. The Racing players, meanwhile, remained huddled in the center of the pitch. After 40 seconds, a Real player kicked the ball out of play. The referee spoke to Racing’s captain to confirm his side would not contest the match then blew his whistle to end the game, the first leg of which Real had won 3-1.

Although warned beforehand of what was going to happen, and ignoring the heavy rain and the cold, some 7,000 fans turned up for the occasion to support their team and the dire situation it is facing. They clapped the players to show agreement with their act of defiance as they remained in the center of the pitch after the match was officially over, locked together as one.

The jeers were reserved for the club’s board of directors. Supporters carried large banners saying: “Go away cheats,” while shouting: “Pay them!”

As for the management, club Chairman Ángel Lavin failed to show up at the stadium. Directors Leticia Vila, Jorge Madrazo and Lavin’s nephew, Jairo Lavin, were jeered as they entered the ground but failed to appear in the directors’ box.