Levante players stage standstill at kickoff
European League Coverage
All 11 members of the relegated team, which is owed a reported €18 million (US$27.6 million), lined up behind the center circle with their arms linked at the start of Wednesday's match at Deportivo's Riazor Stadium.
After the home side kicked off, Deportivo midfielder Sergio Gonzalez took the ball past the stationary Levante players but then fired deliberately wide of the empty net to applause from Deportivo fans. He then embraced each of his opponents before the game began in earnest, with Deportivo winning 1-0.
Levante coach Jose Angel Moreno praised Deportivo's players, officials and supporters.
"They showed great support for our claims. You saw what happened at the start and that's enough to prove it," Moreno was quoted as saying by news agency Efe.
Levante players, who took the field wearing tee shirts bearing mottos in Spanish meaning "Solution or resignation. We want to be paid," were to hold a demonstration at the club's Ciutat de Valencia stadium later Thursday.
The protest came nearly two weeks after the players called off a two-day strike after appearing to reach a solution with Levante's board, the Valencia city hall and the Spanish Football League.
In February, some players said they had their houses repossessed, while others sold their cars and had their bank accounts frozen.
Levante, which was relegated following its defeat against Recreativo, is last with 26 points from 36 games. Its previous coach Gianni De Biasi quit the club to rejoin Italy's Torino in April.
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