La Liga’s Miami Match Postponed, Sparking Controversy
the planned La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona, scheduled to be played in Miami in December, has been postponed by organizers. The decision came as a surprise to Barcelona officials,including manager Hansi Flick,who were unaware of the impending proclamation while concluding a press conference following their Champions League win over Olympiacos. Barcelona’s dialog department also had no prior knowledge of the postponement.
The cancellation follows a recent progress in a legal battle: FIFA was dropped as a defendant in a lawsuit brought by Relevent in April 2024. This legal case had been a factor in the ongoing discussion surrounding playing domestic league fixtures abroad.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta had publicly expressed confidence in the game proceeding, stating earlier on Tuesday that playing in Miami was “a way to promote our brand in the U.S.” Some Barcelona players had even begun making holiday plans around a potential extended stay in the United States following the match, anticipating time off granted by Flick.
Though, several players, including Marc-Andre ter Stegen and frenkie de Jong, had previously voiced opposition to playing the match outside of Spain. De Jong expressed concerns about fairness to other teams and the competition, while Ter Stegen signed a statement from the AFE (Spanish footballers’ Association) opposing the game.
The abrupt reversal has been met with criticism, with many questioning how La Liga announced the game before securing all necessary arrangements. La Liga president Javier Tebas had been a long-time proponent of hosting La Liga matches in the U.S., and the postponement represents a setback to those plans, despite earlier indications of approval from UEFA and advanced preparations including impending ticket sales.
Laporta’s earlier defiant statement,dismissing concerns from rivals like real Madrid,now appears premature. The match will now be played in Villarreal as originally planned, leaving both Laporta and Tebas facing scrutiny over the handling of the situation.
