US EditionGame off: Spanish league cancels plans for Barcelona to play regular-season match in Miami
- LaLiga called off the planned FC Barcelona–Villarreal CF fixture in Miami, cancelling the Dec. 20 match at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens.
- Opposition from players, some clubs and fans had grown recently in Spain, creating uncertainty around the plan.
- The plan had UEFA and federation approval, regulators said, but Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois criticised it and Villarreal CF risked losing home advantage to FC Barcelona.
- LaLiga said it `deeply regrets` losing a historic opportunity for Spanish soccer's international expansion and warned this setback limits clubs’ investment and income generation.
- The move was pitched as a strategic step for LaLiga's global expansion, as holding an official match abroad would boost Spanish soccer’s visibility in the United States, while opponents cited the home-and-away principle.
243 Articles
243 Articles
Watauga Democrat
La Liga's Miami match: Why did it fail and what happens next?
La Liga's plan to move Barcelona's trip to face Villarreal in December to Miami in the United States collapsed this week under heavy pressure within Spain. AFP Sport looks at how, why and what happens next.
The Barça game in Miami fails due to the resistance of the players and the pressure of Real Madrid. Loser is also an agency with great ambitions.
Villarreal blamed La Liga's mismanagement on Wednesday for cancelling its planned regular season match against Barcelona in the United States.
The players in Spain are protesting, and Villarreal FC does not have to play their home game against FC Barcelona in Miami. That's a good signal.
FC Barcelona was supposed to compete for the league match against FC Villarreal shortly before Christmas in the USA. After protests by players and fans, the game is now taking place in Spain. The reactions are mixed.
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