Neither force majeure nor prior agreement: Madrid will play Matchday 1 after the Competition's 'no'

There was a promise. Or at least, an invisible handshake between Real Madrid , LaLiga, and the AFE, since if Real Madrid reached the Club World Cup semifinals, they could postpone their first league match . And they did. But when it came time to turn the promise into reality , no one remembered signing it.

This Thursday, the RFEF Competition Judge rejected Madrid's request to move their LaLiga opener against Osasuna to October 29. According to the club, the players needed more rest. According to the judge, the rule is clear: the schedule is not changed unless there is a force majeure.

An agreement without an official signature

In May, according to Real Madrid, a meeting was held with representatives from LaLiga, the AFE (Spanish Football Association), and the club's captains , in which it was revealed that if the team reached the Club World Cup semi-finals , their first La Liga match could be postponed. However, that agreement was not formalized in writing, and the Competition Judge has not considered it sufficient grounds to modify the official schedule.

Amidst the controversy, Osasuna appeared as the unexpected guest . According to sources at Madrid, the Navarrese team was willing to accept the change of date, as long as it didn't affect their own schedule. They didn't confirm this publicly, but their goalkeeper, Sergio Herrera , summed it up in the El Larguero interview:

“Our first intention was to help, it seemed like the logical thing to do, but now all we can do is play.”

The other side of the issue: AFE and rest

From the AFE, David Aganzo did speak out for the players . He complained that LaLiga didn't respect the agreement and that the physical risk is present . Real Madrid will only have 15 days of preparation after their vacation. In a season with hardly any respite and with legs stretched thin since Qatar, the complaint doesn't sound so far-fetched.

But the rules are cold, literal, and ignore sensations or form. Barring an unlikely turnaround in the Appeals Court or the Spanish Football Association (CAS), Madrid-Osasuna will be played as scheduled. The Whites will return to the competition on August 19 at 9:00 PM , with whatever they have. With the feeling that modern football only focuses on its own interests and has no time even for rest.