The match between FC Villarreal and FC Barcelona will not take place in Miami after massive protests. However, the league officials make it clear that they consider the opposition to their plans to be fundamentally wrong.
The controversial “away away game” of FC Barcelona in Miami will not take place after protests from players and fans.
Spain’s LaLiga abandoned the plan to hold the championship match between FC Villarreal and Barcelona on December 20 in the USA on Tuesday – due to the “uncertainty” that arose in Spain. At the same time, the league officials make it abundantly clear in a lamenting tone that they consider the criticism of their plans to be fundamentally wrong.
Lamine Yamal and Co. will not be performing magic in Miami after all
LaLiga mourns missed opportunity
The league “deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the internationalization of Spanish football, cannot be continued,” according to a press release on Tuesday evening.
A game abroad would have “meant a crucial step in the global expansion of our league,” initiatives like these are “crucial to ensure the sustainability and growth of Spanish football.” Giving up on this makes “generating new revenue” more difficult and limits “the ability of clubs to invest.”
There had been fierce criticism of the first match of a European league abroad, both from fans and players. The European Football Union (UEFA) had only agreed “reluctantly” and “as an exception.”
The Italian Serie A had submitted the same application for the match between AC Milan and Como 1907. Due to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at San Siro two days earlier, the match is scheduled to be held on February 8 in Perth, Australia.