La Liga president Javier Tebas has come out swinging in defence of the league’s proposal to stage Barcelona’s domestic clash with Villarreal in Miami, taking aim at what he described as Real Madrid’s shaky record of integrity.
The 36-time La Liga champions have long opposed the idea of playing league fixtures abroad and wasted no time voicing their disapproval after the plan received provisional approval. In a strongly worded statement, Madrid argued that the move “violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity” central to La Liga’s structure.
They further claimed that holding the match in Miami, rather than at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica, would grant Barcelona an “unfair sporting advantage.” However, Tebas shrugged off the complaints. In typically blunt fashion, he dismissed Madrid’s objections and doubled down on his support for taking La Liga fixtures overseas.
His argument quickly turned into an attack, highlighting how Madrid have long mastered the art of bending the rules to suit themselves. He pointed to Franco Mastantuono, with Real Madrid curiously handing the €45 million signing the No. 30 shirt to pass him off as a reserve-team player, even though everyone knows Xabi Alonso plans to use him regularly in the senior squad.
What Javier Tebas said
“The match in Miami doesn’t manipulate anything. We’re talking about an issue of ‘integrity,’” the league boss told RNE.
“Top-flight teams have 25 players, and Real Madrid have given [shirt number] 30, with a reserve team registration, to a player who won’t play a single minute with the reserve team.
“Vinicius was registered with the reserve team and did play with the reserve team. So if we get an attack of integrity, we have to talk about all this, too.
“During COVID, the only team allowed to change stadiums to move forward with construction was Real Madrid. Did that affect the competition? No. I don’t understand all the fuss.”
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