Racing Santander BANNED from next year's Copa del Rey after players refuse to play cup match because of unpaid wages



Racing Santander have been banned from next year's Copa del Rey

Referee ended quarter-final second-leg against Real Sociedad after Racing players said they would not participate in the contest



Santander stars haven't been paid since September

Racing fans cheered their heroes' stance



Racing Santander have been banned from next year's Copa del Rey after they refused to play their quarter-final second-leg tie against Real Sociedad on Thursday night in protest at not being paid since September.



They stood still on the pitch at their home ground, Campos de Sport de El Sardinero, after kick-off while Sociedad passed the ball about.

Referee Gil Manzano asked the Santander players if they were going to participate and they said no, so he ended the contest.

VIDEO Scroll down to see the aftermath of Racing Santander team's sensational protest



Boycott: Santander players refused to play against Real Sociedad because of a dispute over unpaid wages

Game over: Santander and Real Sociedad players shake hands after the match is abandoned

The Racing fans cheered wildly and backed their players in their protest, continuing to shout and applaud long after the referee abandoned the match.

'We have given up what we like most, which is to play,' said Racing striker Mariano Sanz.

'We wanted to play but we couldn't let them stand on our rights. To play in the quarters was a dream for us, everything had gone so well to get there.

'It is a shame to end it like this but we were clear in what we were doing.'

Appreciative: Santander players applaud fans after supporters backed their decision to boycott the game

Real Sociedad's coach, Jagoba Mondragon, said he was happy to have reached the compeition's semi-finals but admitted that it was not 'a day to celebrate'.



He explained how his opposite number at Racing, Paco Fernandez, had told him about what was going to happen before the game.



He also said Santander's players were in an 'uncomfortable' situation and had sympathy with them for 'everything they are going through'.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Fernandez said: 'I want to say thank you for the show of support we've had.

'We feel touched. We regret having to make this decision but we have done it out of respect to football, the sport that we love, and to ourselves.



'I want to thank my players for their bravery. Today was the biggest game of our lives and we have done it for our dignity. Without the fans' support, today's decision would have been very difficult to take.'



The supporters remained for over an hour after the game was abandoned, still shouting, cheering and singing.

Talk of the town: AS and Mundo led with powerful front pages about the players' making their stand



Uncomfortable situation: Siupporters remained in the stadium over an hour after the players left the field

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina lended his support to the Santander players' plight.

Currently on loan at Italian side Napoli, the Spaniard took to Twitter to publicly back those affected.

The 31-year-old tweeted: 'I can tell you that deciding not to play a quarter-final Copa del Rey game after knocking out two Primera division teams must be really painful.

'I am disgusted at such bad management by the owners.



'I want to express my absolute solidarity with such big professionals. My support for you SOSRacing and Olé for their fans' support.'

Os puedo asegurar q llegar a tomar la decisión de NO jugar un partido de 1/4 de COPA DEL REY habiendo eliminado a 2 primeras,tiene q ser muy — Pepe Reina (@PReina25) January 30, 2014

Doloroso..q asco de dirigentes..Mi solidaridad absoluta con esos pedazo de profesionales...MUCHO ÁNIMO #SOSRacing y Olé su afición apoyando — Pepe Reina (@PReina25) January 30, 2014



As recently as 2008, Racing finished sixth in the Primera Division standings but in the last two seasons they have suffered back-to-back relegations to drop to the third tier.

Real Sociedad won the first leg 3-1 and now progress to the next round by default where they will face Barcelona who defeated Levante 9-2 on aggregate on Wednesday.

Support: President of the Association of Spanish Footballers, Luis Rubiales (left) embraces Santander defender Francis (right) following a meeting on Thursday

Earlier in the week the players had said they would only play if the club's president resigned.

In the statement on Monday, Racing captain Mario Fernandez said the players had not been paid for a number of months despite promises they would be.

With still no response to that ultimatum throughout the week, Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) chief Luis Rubiales met with the Racing players and coaching staff in Santander on Thursday, and afterwards he confirmed there had been no change in the team's stance.

Rubiales told a press conference: 'If at 2100 (CET) the Racing board is the same as now, they will not play.

'The squad decided something last Monday which they made public, and they continue thinking exactly the same, that if the current board has not resigned by the time of the game they are not going to play. They have the complete backing of the AFE, as always.'

Rubiales reminded the Racing players at the meeting that 'there are rules and their decision not to play could have consequences, but they are strong and united and we have to be together with them'.