MADRID (AP) — Spain’s soccer league announced Tuesday that Barcelona was scheduled to play a regular-season match against Villarreal in a Miami suburb in December, but the decision was canceled following growing opposition to the game in the country.
The league said the decision was taken after discussions with the promoters of the match, which was scheduled for December 20, citing “the uncertainty that has arisen in Spain in recent weeks”.
Games promoter Lilevento said it had informed La Liga of the need to “postpone the scheduled matches” as there was “insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale”.
He added, “It would be irresponsible to start selling tickets before the match is confirmed.”
In the league finally succeeded The team received approval from soccer organizations such as UEFA and the Spanish Federation to hold regular season matches overseas for the first time. However, there has recently been growing opposition in Spain from players, some clubs and fans.
“The Spanish league deeply regrets that this project, which represents a historic and unique opportunity for the international expansion of Spanish football, will not be able to move forward,” the league said in a statement.
“Holding official matches across borders would have been a decisive step in the global growth of the competition, strengthening the presence of international clubs, the positioning of players and the visibility of Spanish football in strategic markets such as the United States,” the league said.
The report said, “The project was fully compliant with all federal regulations and did not affect the integrity of competition, as confirmed by the competent authority responsible for ensuring compliance, which opposed the project for other reasons.”
However, criticism of the game has increased recently, with players staging a protest during a league match over the weekend. stillness seconds after kickoff.
Real Madrid goalkeeper early Tuesday morning Criticizing Thibaut Courtois Spanish league president Javier Tebas complained about the league’s decision to censor the players’ protests. The television coverage of the game switched to the stadium exterior before kickoff, showing only part of the field from a distance.
Madrid have been one of the most vocal clubs against the match, arguing that it undermines the fairness of the competition. Villarreal became the official home team for the game, which was scheduled to be held at Hard Rock Stadium.
“Teams should play home and away,” Courtois said. “Playing against a team at home and away is not the same. It is difficult to play away in the Spanish league. It is very difficult to play away on the field of Villarreal. Every team has to play home and away unless there is a big reason why it cannot be done.”
Barcelona and Villarreal were participating in matches abroad. Villarreal fans will be able to attend the match for free, and those who choose not to attend will receive a significant discount on season tickets.
Barcelona said it respected the decision but regretted “a missed opportunity to expand the image of a competitor in a strategic market with the capacity to grow and create resources for the benefit of all.”
Barcelona said in a statement: “The club is grateful for the support and unconditional love it has received from its fans in the United States and deeply regrets that it will not be able to participate in any official matches on its home soil.”
La Liga said it was an important match for the league “at a time when competition is becoming increasingly intense as leagues such as the Premier League and competitions such as the UEFA Champions League continue to expand their scope and revenue-generating capacity”.
“Such initiatives are essential to ensure the sustainability and growth of Spanish football,” the league said. “Abandoning such opportunities hinders the generation of new revenues, limits clubs’ ability to invest and compete, and reduces the international projection of the entire Spanish football ecosystem.”
“As always, the league remains committed to promoting an open, modern and competitive vision that brings Spanish football to every corner of the world and benefits both clubs, players and fans.”
La Liga has a long-term partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent Sports. Relevent Sports is part of Stephen Ross’ portfolio of companies, which includes Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins, Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open Tennis Tournament.
Plans for the La Liga match in Miami have since been updated FIFA dropped the lawsuit The case was filed in Manhattan court by Relevent. A few weeks later, FIFA announces review of rules It established a working group that included UEFA’s lawyers.
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