BARCELONA’s controversial LaLiga fixture in Miami has been CANCELLED as organisers claim there is not enough time to put the event together.
The Spanish giants were scheduled to play their ‘away’ fixture against Villarreal at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
The decision sparked outrage from much of the footballing world, including the players set to be involved in the match.
Protests occurred across LaLiga at the weekend as players refused to play for the opening 15 seconds of their fixtures.
This included Barcelona players, who stood still following the start of their victory over Girona on Saturday.
But now it appears that the game will not be going ahead, with organisers Relevent Sports releasing a statement announcing that they would have to postpone the event.
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The statement read: “Given the current uncertainty in Spain, there is insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale.
“It would also be irresponsible to begin selling tickets without a confirmed match in place.”
Though the original statement committed only to a postponement of the event, LaLiga quickly responded with a fiery announcement of their own that would suggest the decision is more permanent.
This release referred to the event as “cancelled” and expressed, in no uncertain terms, the league’s frustration over the situation.
Their statement read: “LaLiga deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the internationalisation of Spanish football, cannot go ahead.
“Hosting an official match outside our borders would have been a decisive step in the global expansion of our competition, strengthening the international presence of the clubs, the positioning of the players, and the brand of Spanish football in a strategic market like the United States.
“The project fully complied with federal regulations and did not affect the integrity of the competition, as confirmed by the competent institutions that oversee its implementation, which were opposed for other reasons.
“In a context of increasing global competitiveness, where leagues like the Premier League and competitions like the Champions League continue to increase their reach and revenue-generating capacity, initiatives like this are essential to ensuring the sustainability and growth of Spanish football.
“Forgoing these types of opportunities hampers the generation of new revenue, limits clubs’ ability to invest and compete, and reduces the international reach of the entire Spanish football ecosystem.”
It is fair to say that the league is not pleased with the new turn of events, but for the moment, but opponents of the movement to play domestic games abroad will be celebrating.
One fan labelled the cancellation: “A victory for common sense.”
Another fan bluntly chimed in: “Good, overseas league games is a stupid idea and only wants to rinse the fans and it’s not fair on fans who watch their team in LaLiga week in week out.”
Eyes will now turn to Serie A, where a match between AC Milan and Como has also been authorised to be played abroad in Australia in February.
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