The much-anticipated LaLiga fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal, scheduled to be held in Miami on December 20, has been officially cancelled following widespread criticism in Spain. The promoter of the event pulled the plug on Tuesday, LaLiga confirmed in a statement.
The match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was set to make history as the first-ever LaLiga game played outside Spain, marking a major step toward the league’s international expansion. However growing backlash from clubs, officials and sections of Spanish football fans has forced organisers to abandon the plan.
“LaLiga reports that, following discussions with the promoter of the LaLiga official match in Miami, the latter has announced its decision to cancel the event due to the uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks,” the league said.
LaLiga expressed disappointment at the outcome, calling it a lost opportunity to globalise Spanish football.
“LaLiga deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the internationalisation of Spanish football, cannot go ahead. The staging of an official match outside our borders would have been a decisive step in the global expansion of our competition,” the statement added.
Although UEFA had given its approval, the plan was still awaiting final clearance from FIFA.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid emerged as one of the fiercest critics of the proposal, filing two complaints with Spain’s Sports Ministry. The club accused LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation of taking unilateral decisions without consulting member clubs.
“LaLiga does whatever it wants because it suits them,” said Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. “This decision distorts the competition. Playing at home is not the same as playing away. Villarreal away is tough, and it’s not fair to change the rules mid-season without consulting us.”
Adding to the turmoil, players across LaLiga staged silent protests at the weekend’s kickoffs, though these were omitted from official broadcasts.
Despite defending the legality of the Miami initiative, LaLiga admitted the setback was damaging in the long term.
“Giving up such opportunities hinders the generation of new revenue, limits the ability of clubs to invest and compete, and reduces the international profile of the entire national football ecosystem,” the statement concluded.
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