La Liga accused of 'lack of respect' as Villarreal slam decision to cancel Barcelona match in Miami

Martin Macdonald

• 23 Oct 2025 05:30 CDT
• 4 min read

News

Villarreal have released a statement heavily criticising the decision to cancel their proposed La Liga match against Barcelona in Miami, Florida.

The two Spanish sides were set to make history as the fixture would have been the first time that a Primera Division match took place on foreign soil.

La Liga insisted that the plans were put in motion in order to help grow Spanish football to a new audience, though there was obviously a financial incentive also.

Both clubs were set to receive around €6 million, though the Yellow Submarine would have been compensated for a loss in ticket revenue as it is officially their home fixture.

Players, pundits, clubs, higher management and coaches all criticised the plans.

The main criticism points to the fact the home and away balance of the season would have been skewed. The match is Villarreal's home game, but playing in Miami would have undoubtedly seen more Barcelona fans present at the match.

In the opinion of other clubs, Real Madrid in particular, that gave the Blaugrana a sporting advantage over their competitors as they effectively would have played 19 home matches even if one was in the United States.

Following the outcry, La Liga announced the cancellation of the fixture during Villarreal's Champions League match against Manchester City on Tuesday.

Villarreal responds

"Villarreal CF wishes to express its deep displeasure with La Liga for the poor management of the organization of the match scheduled to be played in Miami against FC Barcelona on Dec. 20, corresponding to Matchday 17, which ultimately will not be played in the United States," the club said in a statement.

"Given the lack of progress in the development and organization by La Liga, Villarreal CF has repeatedly expressed its deep concern to the organization and urged it to define such basic and fundamental aspects as confirming the match time and hiring a travel agency for such a large-scale trip, which are vital to begin organizing the event.

"In fact, a meeting was scheduled for this Thursday, in which if these issues were not resolved immediately, the club would withdraw from the project due to not having the minimum conditions guaranteed for the organization. Villarreal CF regrets that La Liga, as the organizer, did not better manage the management of the match and that the La Liga match in Miami could not be held, as it believes it is a good opportunity for the growth of the clubs and La Liga internationally."

La Liga boss comes out swinging

La Liga president Javier Tebas, who has been championing the plans from the start, hit back at the cancellation and believes it will impact the growth of Spanish football. He wrote on X:

“Today, Spanish football has lost an opportunity to advance, project itself globally, and strengthen its future.

“The defence of ‘tradition’ is invoked from a narrow-minded and provincial perspective, while the true traditions of European football are threatened by decisions by the governing institutions, which year after year destroy national leagues, the true driving force of the European football industry, amid the naivety and passivity of European leaders who fail to distinguish the inconsequential from the essential.

“The ‘integrity of the competition’ is invoked by those who have been questioning that same integrity for years, pressuring referees and leaders, constructing distorted narratives, or using political and media pressure as a sporting tool.

“I want to thank Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona for their commitment and generosity in being part of a project that only sought the growth of our competition. They weren’t thinking about themselves, they were thinking about everyone.

“LaLiga will continue working, with rigour and conviction, to keep Spanish football competitive, standing up to those who seek to destroy it, but always respecting its roots and ensuring its sustainability.

“Spanish football deserves to look to the future with ambition, not fear. We will keep trying. This time, we came very close.”

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