Madrid, October 22 (Daily Kiran): Spain’s top football league, LaLiga, has officially cancelled the regular season match between Villarreal and Barcelona that was scheduled to be played in Miami, USA, this December.
In a statement released on Tuesday, LaLiga said, “Following discussions with the promoter of the official LaLiga match in Miami, the decision has been taken to cancel the event due to recent uncertainty that has arisen in Spain.”
The league added that hosting an official match abroad would have been “an important step towards the global growth of the competition, enhancing clubs’ international presence, player recognition, and the global visibility of Spanish football.”
Promoter Cites Lack of Preparation Time
Event promoter Relevant Sports informed LaLiga that the match had to be postponed because there was not enough time to properly organize such a large-scale event. The company stated, “It would be irresponsible to begin ticket sales without confirmed match details.”
The decision comes amid ongoing criticism from several players and clubs regarding the idea of holding official league matches outside Spain.
Villarreal was set to be the host team, and the match was scheduled to take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Players Oppose Overseas Matches
Reacting to the development, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said, “Teams should play both home and away fixtures. Playing outside Spain is difficult. Villarreal’s home ground is a tough venue, and every team should get the chance to play home and away unless there is a strong reason to change.”
LaLiga–Relevant Sports Partnership
LaLiga and Relevant Sports share a long-term partnership. The latter is part of Stephen Ross’s ownership group, which also oversees the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Dolphins, Formula One Miami Grand Prix, and Miami Open tennis tournament.
Plans for hosting a LaLiga match in Miami had recently gained traction after FIFA withdrew from a lawsuit filed by Relevant Sports. Soon after, FIFA announced that it would review its regulations on international league matches and form a working group involving UEFA’s legal experts to study the issue further.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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