Several photojournalists’ associations in the Spanish State, including the Basque Country’s EIGE and NAGE graphic informers’ associations in Navarre, have asked the Ministry of Health to repeal the article on media non-attendance to professional leagues’ training. They refer in particular to Article 39.6 of Order SND/399/2020, published in the BOE on 9 May. "The basis of our request is that there is a contradiction between the consideration of the media as an essential activity and the abovementioned mandate," the graphic reporting associations said.

The associations claim to be able to do their work freely in training or official parties. "In fact, the League offers graphic coverage of these activities through a photographic agency contracted by itself. Apart from reducing the freedom of the press, unfair competition is taking place which gives rise to a partial view of the information of interest to fans of this sport". In addition, they have denounced that "the economic and labor damage caused to professional informants covering these activities and that have already been damaged by natural causes since the pandemic occurred".

Photojournalists are "aware" of the situation generated by COVID-19 and, therefore, in football training their work would be carried out "with all the security guarantees that are determined at every moment by the health authorities". "In fact, the spaces in which training has been carried out so far are large enough to maintain the necessary distance between players or technicians and professional informants," he added.

In his opinion, it is "inconsistent" that in this situation there is permission to photograph hospitals, ICU, residents or nursing homes, and that access to sports facilities or soccer fields is not allowed.

"The League wants to monopolize graphic information"

One of the signatory associations is the Association of Professional Photojournalists of Asturias (APFA). On Wednesday they concentrated on the School of Dizziness to denounce their situation and claim that the right to information is not at stake.

"We believe that if ours is a fundamental activity, we should freely report what is happening," said the association's spokesman, Juan Carlos Tuero, "with the pandemic it is intended to achieve the monopoly of graphic information related to football, when the information does not have to be unique, but diverse".

For its part, the Spanish Federation of Associations of Journalists (FAPE) has also called for photojournalists to have the opportunity to photograph themselves during training and games.