By Gareth Messenger
May 16 – With just three days notice, Granada city council have written to the LFP requesting that the La Liga match between Granada CF and Osasuna, scheduled for May 18, is switched to an alternative date.
May 18 is the date of the María Reina de Granada, a pilgrimage which marks the first centenary of the coronation of the Virgen de las Angustias, the patron saint of the city of Granada, where over 200,000 people are expected to centre around the city.
There will be processions taking place in all the districts of the city and the city council are concerned that a match on the same day will add additional pressure to local services and policing, as well as traffic chaos.
The club’s sporting director Juan Carlos Cordero said the club was hoping the people of Granada would attend both events but said it is no longer down to the clubs to decide whether the match should be re-arranged.
“We would like fans to be able to attend both events. We’re in the hands of MediaPro and they are the ones who decide the schedules.”
The city council have asked the LFP to consider rescheduling the game not only because it clashes with the religious festival, but also warned of “serious security risk to persons and property” with their services stretched to the limits, if both events were to coincide.
With the game now just two days away, it will be a tough job for the LFP to cancel the match, but taking into consideration the fears over security of supporters and members of the public, the league may have no other option than to re-schedule.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734799811labto1734799811ofdlr1734799811owedi1734799811sni@r1734799811egnes1734799811sem.h1734799811terag1734799811. Gareth is Editor-in-Chief, www.laliganews.tv @G_Messenger