[Saba Sports News] Recently, La Liga received a judgment from the Social Chamber of the National High Court regarding the silent protest staged by players prior to the start of the league’s Round 9 matches. The judicial ruling held that this conduct constituted an exercise of the right to freedom of expression in the labour and trade union sphere, and ruled out the possibility of classifying it as a strike. However, the judgment itself acknowledged that the collective action had a proven impact on the league’s reputation and economy, as it directly affected the regular production of audiovisual content at its most critical moment. La Liga emphasised that it respects the exercise of fundamental rights, but also recalled that such rights must be exercised within the framework of the principle of proportionality, and must not disrupt the integrity of the competition, nor the obligations undertaken to global broadcasters, clubs and fans.
The editor believes that professional competitions are not only sporting events but also international audiovisual products, requiring all relevant parties to provide legal certainty, predictability and accountability. In this sense, La Liga believes that the ruling raises important legal questions regarding the boundary between freedom of expression and collective actions that affect the progress of matches, especially when such actions have resulted in proven economic and reputational damage.