Spain's Match against Equatorial Guinea Raises Eyebrows

Spain's decision to play an international friendly at Equatorial Guinea is raising eyebrows.

The World Cup winners face Spain's former African colony on Saturday, drawing the ire of Equatorial Guinea's opposition in exile group in Madrid.

It has also left players in a difficult spot as they have reportedly refused to pose for photographs with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who is Africa's longest serving strongman and accused of human rights violations and corruption.

More than 14,000 people have joined the opposition group in calling for the match to be halted by signing a petition on change.org.

"The adequate decision for everyone, in our opinion, would be that the game is not celebrated," the group said Thursday in a statement. "If not, Spain will pay a hefty bill for falling into this trap, and not just from an economic standpoint."

Spanish federation president Angel Maria Villar and the players refused to talk about the situation.

"I won't answer this question," Villar said. "Ask anything else, but I won't respond to this one."

Spain will become the first nation from outside Africa to play in Malabo since Obiang took power in 1979.

Amnesty International, EG Justice and Human Rights Watch are among those who have criticized Obiang's government over issues such as politically motivated arrests and lack of freedom of speech. Obiang seized power in a coup.

Spain striker Fernando Llorente was asked his opinion of the situation, but team spokeswoman Paloma Antoranz interjected and said the players would not answer questions on the topic.

Llorente eventually said: "I only want to talk about sport, everything else I don't want to talk about it."

Marc Bartra, who has been called up for the first time and has yet to play a game for Spain, and Raul Albiol also avoided talking about the situation in detail.

"We try to stay out of all this and to focus on the football. The country, its government, that is something apart," Albiol said. "We're here to play a friendly and nothing more."

Spain defender Sergio Ramos was critical of another extended travel plan that will see the team return to South Africa for a friendly on Tuesday, its first trip to the country since it won the World Cup there in 2010.

"It's clear that these long trips are not enjoyable for anybody," Ramos said. "We can try new tactics heading into the World Cup which is always something positive."

Equatorial Guinea, which is coached by former Spain international Andoni Goikoetxea, is 119th in FIFA's world rankings.