In a bold move against the increasing trend of night-time games in Spanish football, fans of Deportivo Alavés staged a protest during their La Liga clash against Sevilla on Friday. One of the club’s largest organized fan groups, angered by the scheduling of numerous Friday and Monday night games, called for a boycott of the match’s opening minutes. This protest aimed to highlight the difficulties these late-night matches pose for supporters’ attendance.
Fans were urged to take their seats five minutes after kickoff, ensuring empty stands during the initial stages of the game. A massive banner circulated on social media proclaiming, “Fans, Now or Never, No to Football During the Week.” The protest underscored the frustration felt by fans who believe that the traditional weekend fixture format is being eroded by the demands of television broadcasting.
This season, Alavés are set to play two of their first ten La Liga matches on a Friday night. Last season, the club played a significant 12 of their 34 league games outside the conventional weekend slots, placing them among the league leaders for most midweek fixtures, alongside Granada. This shift towards midweek games, driven by TV audience appeal and increasing fixture congestion, has sparked growing dissatisfaction among fans who value the traditional weekend football experience.
While the absent fans missed little in the opening minutes of the match, they were present in time to witness Carlos Vicente give Alavés a lead after a quarter of an hour. Carlos Martin doubled the home side’s advantage just past the hour mark. Despite Dodi Lukebakio pulling one back for Sevilla seven minutes from time, the visitors couldn’t prevent a comfortable 2-1 victory for Alavés. The Basque club currently sits in fifth place in La Liga, while Sevilla occupies 14th position.
This protest by Alavés fans shines a spotlight on the growing tension between the need to cater to TV audiences and the desire to preserve the traditional spirit of football, a sport deeply rooted in weekend enjoyment for fans. It remains to be seen whether this protest will prompt changes in the scheduling of La Liga matches in the future.
