La Liga has scrapped its plan to stage the highly anticipated match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami this December, citing “uncertainty” surrounding the event in Spain.
The game, originally scheduled for December 20, was meant to make history as the first-ever European league fixture played outside the continent. However, the league announced on Tuesday that the promoter in charge of organizing the match had decided to pull the plug due to growing controversy and opposition within Spain.
In a statement, La Liga expressed disappointment over the cancellation, calling it a missed “historic and unparalleled opportunity” to showcase Spanish football on the global stage. Tickets were supposed to go on sale at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami this week, but sales were put on hold before the plan was officially dropped.
As a result, the match will now take place at Villarreal’s home ground, Estadio de la Cerámica, as originally planned in Spain.
Barcelona, in their response, said they “respect and accept” the decision to cancel the U.S. fixture but regretted the lost chance to grow La Liga’s brand internationally. The club also expressed sympathy for their American fans, who will now miss out on watching the game live.
The proposal to move the match abroad had sparked widespread criticism. The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) led protests last weekend, with players from all clubs halting play for 15 seconds at the start of league matches to show opposition.
Real Madrid were also vocal critics of the plan, describing it as damaging to the integrity of the competition. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had said the move would “adulterate” La Liga, while captain Dani Carvajal told league president Javier Tebas it would be “a stain” on Spanish football.
This was La Liga’s closest attempt yet to stage a match abroad, after UEFA, which typically opposes such ideas granted exceptional permission for this one-time event. UEFA had also approved a similar plan for Serie A to host a match between AC Milan and Como in Australia next February.
Despite the setback, La Liga has signaled it remains committed to expanding its global reach, though for now, fans in Miami will have to wait a little longer to see top-flight Spanish football live on U.S. soil.
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