Athletic Club’s Barcelona defeat overshadowed by players’ internal protest

Athletic Club players refused to speak to the media after their 2-0 defeat by FC Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou, with the club saying their silence was a protest over an internal issue.

None of the Basque side’s players took part in the usual post-match interviews, either with DAZN, the broadcaster holding the rights to the game, or later in the mixed zone. The decision included goalkeeper Unai Simon, who had been one of Athletic Club’s outstanding performers on the night.

A club communications official explained the players’ position before manager Edin Terzic held his post-match news conference. The official said the squad had chosen not to carry out their media duties in response to a dispute within the institution.

Athletic Club did not specify what had caused the disagreement. However, several media reports have pointed to the withdrawal of invitations that had previously allowed players’ family members to attend matches.

That issue is understood to have angered members of the squad, who decided to make their dissatisfaction visible by refusing to speak publicly after the game.

The protest followed a difficult evening for Athletic Club on the pitch. FC Barcelona secured a 2-0 victory, leaving the Basque team with a second consecutive defeat in La Liga.

For long periods, Athletic Club remained in the contest because of the performance of Unai Simon. The goalkeeper made a series of important saves to keep his side within reach of a result, but FC Barcelona eventually claimed the win.

Despite his individual contribution, Simon also declined to speak to DAZN or the assembled reporters in the mixed zone. His decision reflected the position taken by the rest of the Athletic Club squad.

The unusual scenes created a second storyline around the match, with attention turning from the result to the disagreement inside the club. The organisation has not publicly explained the nature of the problem beyond confirming that it was an internal matter.

The reported dispute over family access to matches has therefore remained the main indication of what prompted the players’ action. No further details about the withdrawn invitations or the decision behind them were provided.

Athletic Club’s silence was particularly notable because post-match media duties normally provide players with an opportunity to discuss both the game and their individual performances. On this occasion, however, the squad collectively chose not to address the defeat or the circumstances surrounding it.

The result means the team must respond after successive losses in La Liga, while the internal issue that led to the protest remains unresolved in public.

The subject and related news can also be discussed in greater depth on the Kooora forums.