Official statement

With regards to FIFA’s unilateral decision to extend CONMEBOL’s match calendar in September and October by two days from 9 to 11 days, ignoring viable alternatives proposed by the World Leagues Forum, LaLiga wishes to make clear that it will support Spanish clubs that decide not to release players for international duty with CONMEBOL countries. LaLiga will take appropriate legal action as this change will affect the availability of players to play for their clubs, to the clear detriment of the competition’s integrity.

Currently, 25 players from 13 different clubs have been called up by their nations, a number which could rise when Ecuador and Venezuela announce their squads for the upcoming fixtures. LaLiga considers that the international match calendar can not and should not be modified in this way, especially given that viable alternatives exist.

LaLiga, through the World Leagues Forum, already made clear its dissatisfaction with this scenario and with the lack of consideration for clubs when it comes to the international match calendar, which is agreed upon four years in advance and which national leagues have accepted and adapted to bearing in mind COVID-related circumstances, but always in ways mutually agreed upon by all parties involved.

LaLiga will schedule a meeting with the affected clubs in the coming days.