Perez Criticizes La Liga’s Decision To Continue Playing After Floods

Players and coaches in Spain’s La Liga should not have had to raise concerns themselves about playing league matches following the deadly floods in eastern Spain, Villarreal forward, Ayoze Perez said.

Last month, floods resulted in over 200 fatalities, prompting the Spanish FA to postpone seven midweek Cup matches along with all games planned for Valencia’s eastern region.

However, matches in other regions of Spain went ahead, despite Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone saying it made no sense to play.

La Liga chief, Javier Tebas said on November 2nd that it was best for the league to go ahead in non-affected areas, adding, “The best message is to be on the front line in our workplaces like all workers in other sectors.”

Spain international, Perez was asked about the league’s response to the disaster on Wednesday.

“We shouldn’t have reached the point that coaches and players had to come out and give their opinion because ultimately it’s so clear… We’re talking about a catastrophe,” he told reporters.

“We had to be at Valencia’s side. Football comes second, or third. What mattered was all those people affected.”

LaLiga did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Perez’s Villarreal did not participate in their match against Rayo Vallecano in the immediate wake of the floods but resumed play the following week against Deportivo Alaves.

“The minute’s silence (before the match) was very emotional,” Perez said.

“Villarreal is so close to Valencia that we were so conscious that it was not the best conditions in which to play a game.

“The decision was not in our hands; we had to play, and so we did. But we all agreed that we shouldn’t have.”