During pandemic, Spanish player union supports footballers with financial aid

AFE set up an emergency fund in May after dozens of clubs suspended regular salary payments as a nationwide lockdown stopped football.

So far, the fund distributed some 1.3 million euros among the players in both the men’s and women’s leagues in Spain.

Separately, AFE continues to provide multiple services to players such as helping those with long-term injuries with a recovery plan at a clinic near Madrid.

AFE’s partnership with the clinic is particularly valuable for players at lower-league clubs, according to Carles Coto, who plays for third-division UE Figueres.

The 32-year-old winger attends the clinic each weekday morning as he recovers from a long-term knee injury, sometimes returning for treatment in the afternoons.

“It’s one of the services that AFE offers that is a big help,” Coto said.

Paula Andújar, a defender for Rayor Vallecano, has a lower-abdomen injury that was diagnosed a month before lockdown.

She said her treatment at the clinic has reduced the pain she was suffering from within the space of a few days.

“The clinic has state-of-the-art technology,” Andújar, 27, said. “I’m very happy with my recovery.”