Spanish La Liga president Javier Tebas has expressed disappointment at the decision to cancel the league match between Barcelona and Villareal initially scheduled to hold in the United States.
The Spanish football federation had approved La Liga’s plan to stage the match in Miami in August, which would have marked the first-ever league game played outside the country.
Before now, the only Spanish fixture to be played outside the country was the Super Cup, which has been hosted abroad since 2018, with Morocco hosting that edition and Saudi Arabia hosting every other edition since then.
However, the decision was met with widespread criticism, with several players and managers deeming it an unfair advantage.
Players across all matches staged a protest over the weekend, standing still for the first 15 seconds of each game.
In response to that, the decision was reversed on Tuesday night, during the UEFA Champions League match between Villareal and Manchester City.
“Today, Spanish football has lost an opportunity to advance, project itself globally, and strengthen its future,” Tebas wrote in a statement.
“The defence of ‘tradition’ is invoked from a narrow-minded and provincial perspective, while the true traditions of European football are threatened by decisions by the governing institutions, which year after year destroy national leagues. “
The organizers cited the lack of sufficient time and uncertainty in the league as the major reason for the cancellation.
The match will now hold at the Estadio de la Ceramica, Villareal’s home stadium on the 21st of December.
“La Liga will continue working, with rigour and conviction, to keep Spanish football competitive, standing up to those who seek to destroy it, but always respecting its roots and ensuring its sustainability.”
Action resumes in the Spanish La Liga this weekend after European duties, with the pick of the clash – the first installment of the El Clasico, scheduled to hold on Sunday.
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