Real Madrid Fails to Postpone LaLiga Start
A judge from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has rejected Real Madrid’s request to postpone their first LaLiga match due to their participation in the Club World Cup. The merengue team played its last match in the tournament on Wednesday, July 9, being defeated 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. LaLiga has scheduled the first match of the 2025-26 season, against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu, for Tuesday, August 19 at 9 p.m. local time, i.e., 41 days after Madrid’s last match in the Club World Cup. Real Madrid argued that this date constituted “a violation of the minimum rest and preparation period” stipulated in the collective agreement that governs professional football in Spain.The judge pointed out that the Madrid players began their rest period on July 11, so they have enjoyed the 21 uninterrupted days of rest established in the collective agreement. Peláez added that the regulations do not mention an additional minimum of 21 days for physical and tactical preparation, as Real Madrid and the players’ union AFE had suggested. Real Madrid has 48 hours to appeal the decision. Meanwhile, Barcelona will start their league season as visitors against Mallorca on Saturday, August 16, and Atletico Madrid will visit Espanyol on Sunday, August 17.In a ruling issued on Thursday, RFEF judge José Alberto Peláez stated that he dismissed Real Madrid’s request to postpone the match to a later date.
José Alberto Peláez, RFEF Judge
