Mexico City (AFP) – Players of Mexican club Veracruz went on strike in the opening minutes of a league game on Saturday, allowing grateful opponents Tigres to walk in two goals unchallenged.
Veracruz decided on the radical action of standing — instead of running — about the pitch to protest over unpaid wages.
As a result, Eduardo Vargas and Andre-Pierre Gignac put Tigres 2-0 ahead inside three minutes on their way to a 3-1 win.
At the end of the games, Veracruz sarcastically applauded their opponents who they claim reneged on a promise to respect their strike.
“They knew that we were going to stay still for three minutes, it’s sad,” said Veracruz defender Carlos Salcido.
However, Tigres skipper Guido Pizarro insisted: “They told us that they were going to stop just for a minute and then it was three. We said we would only stay still for a minute.”
Veracruz are bottom of the table without a win in 13 games, having accrued just four points.
Tigres are third, three points off the lead.
