Three weeks before the start of the season, the dispute between the football association RFEF and the League (LFP) over matches on a Friday or Monday has escalated in Spain. The association published an alternative match schedule in which all matches will only take place on Saturday or Sunday. On the first three match days alone, 13 games received a new kick-off time.
According to this, the opening match between Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona on Saturday 17 August will take place at 8.45 p.m. instead of 9.00 p.m. the day before as announced by the league.
The league responded to the new schedule by stating that it was “the only organisation able to determine appointments” and also referred to national and international TV contracts. On August 7, a court hearing is to clarify the dispute.
RFEF President Luis Rubiales had promised in March that not least because of the numerous protests against the Monday date, similar to those in Germany, no more matches would be scheduled on this weekday and the point games would only take place on Saturdays and Sundays.
In Germany, too, the unloved Monday Games had come under fire. At the end of November, the Bundesliga decided to abolish the season 2021/22, and there will be no more Monday matches in the 2nd Bundesliga either.
