BARCELONA vs Villarreal was set to break new ground becoming the first La Liga match to be played on foreign soil.
It was also set to be a hotly contested game between two teams in in the league campaign, with both teams currently 2nd and 3rd respectively in the league table.
Having won the league last year, Barcelona are aiming to fight off their closest rivals in order for them to maintain their title charge.
Villarreal, the designated home side for the cancelled fixture, have also been enjoying a strong start to the season, placing them firmly in the European qualification spots.
The proposed clash would have catapulted these Spanish giants onto the international stage, providing a more global audience to witness stars such as Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal in action. With this being the case, fans will have to wait until next summers World Cup to see these stars on U.S soil.
When was Barcelona vs Villarreal meant to take place?
The La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona was originally scheduled to be played in Miami, Florida.
The specific date set for the historic fixture at the Hard Rock Stadium was 20 December.
This match was intended to be the first-ever European top-flight league game to take place in the United States.
Following the cancellation, the match reverted to its original scheduling at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica home ground in Spain.
Why was Barcelona vs Villarreal cancelled?
The primary cause for the cancellation was the overwhelming backlash from Spanish football’s key stakeholders.
La Liga cited the “uncertainty in Spain,” acknowledging the significant discontent that the proposed move had generated domestically.
Match promoters, Relevent, formally stated the cancellation was due to “insufficient time” to organise the event amidst the ongoing controversy.
The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) led protests, with players refusing to move for the first 15 seconds of weekend La Liga matches to demonstrate their opposition.
Villarreal coach Marcelino further condemned the decision’s timing, stating the mid-match announcement showed “absolute disrespect” to the club and professionals.
Other clubs, like Real Madrid, had also previously raised concerns that playing the match abroad would “adulterate the competition” by disrupting the home-and-away format.
La Liga expressed deep regret, insisting the cancellation was a blow to the “international profile of the entire football ecosystem” and their effort to generate new revenue.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes the lack of clarity surrounding the financial arrangements for the clubs and how fans would be compensated was a major underlying factor.
However, despite this setback, Balague suggests that La Liga’s head, Javier Tebas, will likely try again to host an official match abroad in the future.
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