Racing de Santander boycott Copa del Rey tie over unpaid wages

Racing de Santander have boycotted their Copa del Rey tie with Real Sociedad.

Within moments of kickoff, the players closed ranks and stood on the centre circle in a dispute over unpaid wages, causing the game to be abandoned.

The Racing coaches and players' issue centres around president Angel Lavin, who has failed to pay their wages for months.

Some players have gone two or three months without being paid, while coach Juan Carlos Unzue hasn't received payment since August.

It is believed that the players decided to wait until the game was underway to down tools in an attempt to switch a fine from the Spanish Football Association onto the club itself rather than face financial sanctions of their own from the club's board if they refused to travel to the stadium.

The move means that La Real have gone through to the semi-finals, where they will meet Barcelona.