Villarreal has criticized LaLiga for its management of the planned Miami match against Barcelona, calling it “poor” and expressing “deepest concern” over the event’s organization. The club noted a “complete and utter lack of respect” in how the cancellation was communicated.
On Tuesday, LaLiga officially announced that the match, scheduled for December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium — set to be the first regular-season game in one of Europe’s “big five” leagues to be held abroad — will now occur at Villarreal’s La Cerámica Stadium.
LaLiga attributed the cancellation to “the uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks,” while its U.S. partner Relevent cited “insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale.”
The Miami match received backlash from players, coaches, and fans, including opposition from Real Madrid. Additionally, the players’ union AFE organized a protest during last weekend’s LaLiga matches.
In a comprehensive statement issued Wednesday, Villarreal CF expressed profound dissatisfaction with LaLiga’s handling of the Miami match against FC Barcelona.
The club noted, “Recognizing the logistical challenges of such a significant event and the implications for fan travel to another continent, Villarreal CF made itself available to LaLiga, emphasizing the necessity for early planning and coordination to meet various logistical needs.”
Despite this, Villarreal CF reported a lack of progress from LaLiga in organizing the match. The club repeatedly conveyed its concerns, urging LaLiga to clarify fundamental details such as kickoff times and travel arrangements essential for facilitating the massive journey. Villarreal mentioned that a meeting had been scheduled for Thursday to address these issues, indicating that failure to resolve them could lead the club to withdraw from the project.
Shortly before the UEFA Champions League match against Manchester City, Villarreal was notified by LaLiga via phone about the match’s cancellation, which was attributed to the promoters [Relevent]. Minutes later, LaLiga issued a unilateral statement confirming the cancellation, which Villarreal found surprising given the significance of the game for the club, reflecting a total disregard for respect and sensitivity.
Villarreal CF expressed regret that LaLiga, as the organizer, failed to manage the situation effectively, resulting in the cancellation of the Miami match.
Barcelona also conveyed its “deep regret” regarding the decision to cancel the game.
On the same day, LaLiga president Javier Tebas stated he felt “Spanish football has lost an opportunity” and criticized detractors of the Miami match for having a “narrow-minded and provincial perspective.” He emphasized that those questioning the “integrity of the competition” had long been inconsistent in their views.
Tebas tweeted, “The ‘integrity of the competition’ is raised by those who have been questioning that same integrity for years… I appreciate Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona for their commitment and generosity in participating in a project aimed solely at enhancing our competition.”
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LaLiga has been aspiring to host a regular-season match in the U.S. since 2018, when it entered a 15-year agreement with Relevant to promote the league in North America.
This proposal has previously faced opposition from governing bodies like FIFA, UEFA, and the RFEF, though UEFA “reluctantly approved” the updated plan this month, citing a lack of clarity in FIFA’s current regulations concerning the issue.