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Alberto Carballo: 'It shouldn't be played – if it is, it's for money'
A footballer died while playing football, and with an international break coming straight after, postponing would have caused no problems
Alberto Carballo argues on the panel show that the round of fixtures should not go ahead after the death of Jesús de Miguel
Alberto Carballo comes out firmly against playing this round of fixtures and accuses LaLiga of putting the calendar and television before people's feelings. Rubén Uría adds: if the players don't want to play, they don't play.
On 'El Club Uría', the panel debated whether this round of LaLiga fixtures should go ahead. The AFE, the Spanish footballers' union, is in favour of not playing, because its members are not in the right frame of mind after the tragic death of Jesús De Miguel, a CD Tenerife player. LaLiga, on the other hand, wants the games to be played with a minute's silence for him, as well as a tribute at every stadium, with play stopping for applause in the ninth minute of each match.
Alberto Carballo is unequivocal: the games absolutely should not be played. He makes his case on several points. "Firstly, this wasn't a road accident but an accident in the course of doing his job." That changes everything, says Carballo. He also called for the protocols to be reviewed and for "a look at whether the handling of the accident could have been better."
Secondly, he points out that many footballers have said publicly that they are in no state to play. He would understand the round going ahead for emotional reasons, such as a tribute with the gate receipts going to the family, but he believes we know what this league is like and that the real reason is financial: a calendar with no free dates, the broadcasters and the fear of throwing everything out of kilter.
Carballo criticises the fact that money keeps being put before feelings and stresses that, with an international break coming straight afterwards, giving everyone two or three weeks' breathing space would not have caused any problem.
Rubén Uría acknowledges that many people share that view, footballers included, and offers a broader reflection: "If the players don't want to play, they don't play, because with fixture congestion as well, they're the ones who end up having to swallow it."