Spanish side Racing Santander's players have walked off the pitch refusing to play their Copa Del Ray quarter final against Real Sociadad in a protest over 4 months of unpaid wages. The ref blew for kick off but the Santander players just gathered in the centre circle. The ref asked if they were going to play, they said no, so the game was abandoned. Crazy scenes!

If I wasn't paid for 4 months I would do the same

I thought if a team refused to play the points went to opposition side? I think it's not an easy boat for the player, although they're professional and they still owe something to the fans.

Perhaps not playing was the best of ideas but I can't blame them.

If I wasn't paid for 4 months I would do the same

what if you supported them damo?

i agree many would prob walk than play, not good for their fans tho.

Why hasn't there been involvement by the Spanish FA or FIFA?

what if you supported them damo?

i agree many would prob walk than play, not good for their fans tho.

If our players weren't paid for ages and refused to play I would back them

If our players weren't paid for ages and refused to play I would back them

Thank god this didn't happen during the 'Munto' season, how would that have turned out? I still don't understand how it was all bankrolled, especially when we couldn't afford the milk bill.

fair enough i think i would be annoyed because its them and us together, i would understand but then i might feel why am i going to support a team which pays for players who are perhaps greedy in terms of salary.

I think they have every right, it should not be allowed to get to this point and players should be forced to be transfered in order reduce the bill. Surely they do the same as us over there?

I would have to agree too, that I would back them.  We pay our money to watch those players kick a ball around ( although Stevenage fans pay to watch their players kick other team's players), and if it became apparent they weren't getting paid then something should be done.  Would we expect someone at McDonalds to be serving us if they didn't get paid.

 

Saying that, I heard on the radio this morning that it isn't exactly an isolated incident in Europe, and that big players can be drawn to English clubs as they know that they will get paid (the PL has a good reputation in this respect)

It seems odd to think that other nations don't make sure players can be paid, as a 'professional' football club this should be something as a guarantee. League officials should make sure things are floating and payments being made, obvious a Portsmouth might occur where they think the bills will be paid and that takeovers might happen but if these aren't the case.

The club should be forced to sell their assets, long term survival over short term? Yeah let's keep the existing squad and run the club into the ground.

There's very clear footage of this incident - the fans were incredibly supportive. For anybody to be employed and not get paid for four months, and to not be allowed to leave the club, is absolutely outrageous. These men have bills to pay. Because of their club's f**k-ups, they could potentially be blacklisted for credit, or even end up destitute. They're in the Spanish third division, which in terms of skill level, is on a par with League Two or the Conference. It's not like they'll be snapped up by another club. 

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/racing-de-santander/copa-del-rey/news/racing-banned-from-copa-del-rey_134181.html

 

>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8ggpnpXa3Y