Osasuna’s Super Cup saga: distribution fights, Riyadh crowds, and calls for neutral venues

No time to read?
Get a summary

Osasun He is a challenging presence in the Spanish Super Cup. A rival who made a mark in Riyadh after a standout season, he finished runner-up in 2015 and impressed in the League and Copa del Rey. Yet the final four in Saudi Arabia seems dominated by the Real Madrid and FC Barcelona duo, with Atlético right behind. In the background stands Osasuna, which, according to Diario de Navarra, has raised two million euros and has become the largest fan movement in Spain. Nearly 600 rojillos are expected to witness the semi-final against Barcelona.

No matter how the tournament unfolds, Osasuna already has momentum. The legalization of the distribution by Valencia in 2020 gave the Navarre club added leverage in the Spanish football assembly to renegotiate the first distribution signed, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by Prensa Ibérica. Valencia joined protests because they opposed increasing the number of teams from two to four. This move cut Osasuna’s chances of winning the tournament in half and exposed a belief that fund distribution was unfair.

Anna Junyent: “Arabia is still the Spain of forty years ago”

Ferran Correas

Trial of distribution by Valencia

It is worth recalling that the 2020 edition went to Real Madrid, a tournament played under exceptional circumstances due to being third in the league. Today, the teams occupying first and second in the regular season participate in the Super Cup, along with the Copa del Rey champion and runner-up. Before the 2023 edition, Valencia warned it would pursue the same legal route, arguing that the distribution of funds was not balanced.

The change at the federation’s helm, led by Rocha, has also improved Osasuna’s relations with the sports establishment. The Navarre club felt aggrieved by the stance of the RFEF, then led by Luis Rubiales in the fight against UEFA’s ban on participating in the Conference League. European football’s governing body blocked Osasuna’s bid after a 2013/2014 match-fixing case involving a different board.

OSASUNA vs ALMERIA. EFE

Around 600 Osasuna fans went to Riyadh

Osasuna managed to reach the qualifying round of the third European competition after CAS rulings favored them. The way Rubiales’ RFEF progresses for Osasuna has been described as being supported by another club affiliated with the FA, a reference to Barcelona amid ongoing concerns related to the Negreira case. The RFEF responded by calling Osasuna’s scoring a ‘disgrace and lack of respect’.

Valencia’s legalization of the distribution and improved ties with Rocha also yielded a more favorable distribution for Osasuna. The Navarre club will hold gatherings at the Al-Awwal Park stadium, the chosen venue for the 2024 Spanish Super Cup semi-finals. Peñas – Beti Gorriak from Osasuna are organizing a trip for about 500 people, with 74 more arranging their own travels, according to Prensa Ibérica from the Football Federation vice president José Ángel Jiménez.

Fans want a neutral ground in Spain

“You will see many Barcelona jerseys in the stands because the big teams are in Riyadh, but we will oppose that setup. The plan seems aimed at a Barça-Real Madrid final, and that is how it’s being sold on television,” a supporter commented. For José Ángel Jiménez, this four-team format should be played at a neutral venue in Spain, akin to the Copa del Rey basketball model.

“This is the best way to bring fans together and reduce long, potentially risky journeys,” said another supporter who will attend a match against Barcelona and an itinerary that includes a two-night stay in Dubai or a desert route. Yet the ideal image for ‘Osasunismo’ remains celebrating the tournament as visitors in Pamplona, a gesture they hope fans can pull off. “Because this kind of modern football format feels like a challenge to us,” one fan added.

No time to read?
Get a summary
Previous Article

Drel Glider Bomb: Penetration Power, Modular Design, and Strategic Implications

Next Article

Marat Baglay: Legacy of a Russian Constitutional Court Leader