Levante's players registered a strong protest over huge outstanding debts owed to all of them before their game against Deportivo.
Team unhappy with unpaid wages
Levante's players registered a strong protest over huge outstanding debts owed to all of them before their game against Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday by standing still at kick-off.
Having called off a strike last month after reportedly reaching an agreement, the Valencia-based team drew the country's attention to their plight once again by linking arms as Depor kicked off.
The home team's captain, Sergio Gonzalez, ran through unchallenged to the visitors goal before deliberately shooting wide in a gesture that drew huge applause from the supporters.
It is understood that the Levante squad are owed 18 million euros in total for things ranging from signing on fees, to win bonuses and even basic weekly wages that have gone unpaid.
The local council is involved in a bid to sort out the problem, but with Levante having been relegated from the top flight a much-needed cash injection appears unlikely at the moment.
Before the start of the game in Riazor, both team embraced with the visitors donning t-shirts with a slogan that warned that the players could all walk away from the club. "Solution or resignation. We want to be paid," it read.
Club coach, Jose Angel Moreno, took over from Gianni De Biasi last month and fully supports the players' cause and admitted that he was proud of them and of Deportivo for the sporting manner in which they voiced their protest.
"They showed great support for our claims. You saw what happened at the start and that's enough to prove it," he said. "There is a feeling of support among the players and the supporters also understand us.
"There are reserve and youth team players having to play and they did so with professionalism and dignity. They are gaining admiration and sympathy wherever they play."
