LaLiga Cancels Match in Miami: Missed Opportunity for Spanish Football
LaLiga has suspended its plans to play a regular season match between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami this December, as announced by the league itself on Tuesday. The decision was made by Relevent, LaLiga’s partner in the North American market, due to the reaction generated in Spain by the proposal to play a league match in foreign territory.
LaLiga deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unprecedented opportunity for the internationalization of Spanish football, cannot be carried out.
The match, which was to take place at Hard Rock Stadium, had generated controversy since its announcement. The initiative, which sought to expand LaLiga’s presence in the United States, faced opposition from players, fans, and Real Madrid.El Hard Rock Stadium ya no albergará el partido de LaLiga entre el Barcelona y el Villarreal.The project complied with the federation’s regulations and did not affect the integrity of the competition, according to the competent institutions. However, the uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks motivated the cancellation.
LaLiga expressed its regret at the impossibility of carrying out this project, which it considered a decisive step for the global expansion of the competition, strengthening the international presence of the clubs and the brand of Spanish football in a strategic market such as the United States.
Barcelona, for its part, regretted the loss of the opportunity to expand the image of the competition in a market with great growth potential. The club thanked the support of its fans in the United States and regretted that they were deprived of witnessing an official match in the country.
Villarreal coach Marcelino García Toral criticized the timing of LaLiga’s announcement, coinciding with his team’s 2-0 defeat against Manchester City in the Champions League. He considered it a lack of respect towards the club, its directors, professionals, and fans.
Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid also spoke out against playing the match in Miami, stating that it would affect the integrity of the competition. Other players, such as Frenkie de Jong of Barcelona, expressed their concern about fatigue and fairness.
LaLiga had planned this match in the United States for some time, with an initial proposal involving a match between Girona and Barcelona in the 2018-19 season. UEFA, although initially opposed, had approved the match in Miami.
