Spanish third division side Racing Santander, which on Monday threatened not to play the team's Copa del Rey match scheduled for Thursday against Real Sociedad "due to owed payments, warmed up on the field, but did not play the game," according to AS. Santander's players had released a "statement declaring they would not play if the team's president and the rest of the club board did not resign." The match official "suspended the contest after 40 seconds after consulting with Santander captain Mario Fernández, who confirmed that Santander was following through with its threat." The "Santander players received an ovation from their fans as they left the field for the locker room." Despite "efforts from the Spanish Footballers Association (AFP) and movement by club President Ángel Lavin, the players stayed firm." Throughout the afternoon, "many rumors circulated around the club." First, AFP President Luis Rubiales "said at noon that the players' position was firm and had the support of the AFP." Later in the afternoon, "rumors appeared that Lavin had met with a Santander notary to present his resignation" (AS, 1/30).
