Protest in Mexico: Mineros and Correcaminos refuse to play
In Mexico, the players of first‑division clubs Mineros and Correcaminos staged a striking protest on Saturday by refusing to play the opening minute of their match, a direct response to the decision to scrap promotion and relegation in Liga MX. The demonstration highlighted growing unrest among Mexicaanse clubs over the league's new direction.
De players from both sides gathered around the centre circle after the first whistle and deliberately kept the ball moving aimlessly, showing no intention to attack. The Correcaminos squad remained stationary, stretching and standing still, while the Mineros players simply circled the ball without purpose. Only after 47 seconds did the game actually commence.
Vandaag (today) the protest was reported as a symptom of widespread dissatisfaction in Mexico with the Liga MX's shift away from the traditional merit‑based system. The top tier is moving toward a licence‑only entry model, reportedly costing around one hundred million dollars, effectively limiting promotion to a privileged few.
The clubs involved, both competing in the Liga de Expansión MX, used the match to voice their opposition to the reforms. Their actions were coordinated: Mineros assembled after the initial whistle, while Correcaminos stayed in a demonstrative stance, both refusing to engage in normal play.
Social media amplified the protest, with the hashtag #AscensoYDescensoYa ("promotion and relegation now") trending across platforms. Fans and observers rallied online, suggesting this could be the first of many similar actions.
The sport tribunal CAS had previously ruled in favour of clubs from the Liga de Expansión, but that legal victory was largely symbolic. Meanwhile, Liga MX has detached itself from the Mexican football federation, granting it the authority to set its own admission rules.
The contrast between the clubs' on‑field silence and the league's administrative overhaul underscores a deepening divide in Mexican football, hinting at further confrontations as the licensing model takes hold.