Villarreal Criticizes LaLiga’s Management of the Match Cancellation in Miami
Villarreal has expressed its deep dissatisfaction with LaLiga for the management of the proposed match in Miami against Barcelona. The club considers that the organization has been deficient and has expressed its concern repeatedly.
LaLiga confirmed on Tuesday that the match, which was to be held at Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, will be played at the Estadio de La Cerámica, in Villarreal, as usual.
LaLiga attributed the cancellation to the “uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks”, while its American partner, Relevent, argued that there was “not enough time to properly execute an event of this magnitude”.
The match in Miami had generated opposition from players, coaches, and fans, as well as Real Madrid.El partido entre el Barcelona y el Villarreal en LaLiga iba a jugarse en el Hard Rock Stadium de Miami.Villarreal, through a statement, expressed its “deep discomfort” with LaLiga for the management of the match. The club had shown its willingness to collaborate, insisting on the importance of adequate planning to ensure the success of the event.
The club also indicated that, given the lack of progress in the organization by LaLiga, it had expressed its concern and urged to define crucial aspects such as the time of the match and the hiring of a travel agency. In fact, a meeting had been scheduled for Thursday in which, if these issues were not resolved, the club would withdraw from the project.
Villarreal regrets that LaLiga, as the organizer, has not been able to better lead the management and that the match cannot be held in Miami.
The president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, expressed his regret over the cancellation, stating that Spanish football has missed an opportunity.
LaLiga has been trying to hold a regular season match in the United States since 2018, when it signed a 15-year agreement with Relevant to promote the league in North America.
The proposal had faced opposition from FIFA, UEFA, and RFEF, although UEFA “reluctantly approved” the plan this month, blaming the lack of details in the current FIFA regulations on the matter.
