'Deeply regret' - Controversial Villarreal vs Barcelona LaLiga match in Miami cancelled

LaLiga have cancelled the proposed league Miami match between Villarreal and Barcelona.

UEFA announced earlier in the month that they had 'reluctantly' given approval for the Spanish top flight fixture to be played abroad on December 20.

They also gave the green light for a Serie A clash with AC Milan and Como to be played in Perth, Australia on February 8.

UEFA insisted both matches are exceptions, and president Aleksander Ceferin stressed that 'League matches should be played on home soil'.

There was widespread criticism over the changes and many fans, like Ceferin, believe domestic matches should not be played elsewhere.

LaLiga have now announced that Villarreal vs Barcelona, scheduled to be played in the American city, will not be played overseas.

talkSPORT understands the encounter could instead be played at Villarreal's Estadi de la Ceramica instead.

"LaLiga announces that, following conversations with the promoter of the Official LaLiga Match in Miami, the decision has been made to cancel the organisation of the event due to the uncertainty that has arisen in Spain over the past few weeks," a statement read.

"LaLiga deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the international expansion of Spanish soccer, will not be able to move forward.

"Holding an official match outside our borders would have been a decisive step in the global growth of the competition, strengthening the international presence of clubs, the positioning of players, and the visibility of Spanish soccer in a strategic market such as the United States.

"The project fully complied with all federative regulations and did not affect the integrity of the competition, as confirmed by the competent institutions responsible for ensuring compliance, which opposed it for other reasons.

"In an increasingly competitive global landscape, where leagues such as the Premier League or competitions like the UEFA Champions League continue to expand their reach and ability to generate revenue, initiatives like this are essential to ensure the sustainability and growth of Spanish soccer.

"Renouncing such opportunities hinders the generation of new income, limits clubs’ capacity to invest and compete, and reduces the international projection of the entire Spanish soccer ecosystem.

"Finally, we wish to thank the clubs for their willingness and collaboration in this project, as well as for their continued commitment to the growth of the competition.

"From LALIGA, we will continue, as always, to work to bring Spanish soccer to every corner of the world, promoting an open, modern and competitive vision that benefits clubs, players, and fans alike."

In a statement via The Athletic, promoters Relevent said: "Relevent has informed La Liga of the need to postpone the planned match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona in Miami on December 20.

"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."

Backlash against Miami match

Spanish football is familiar with matches being played abroad as the Supercopa de Espana has been staged in Saudi Arabia since 2022.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation agreed a reported €120million deal with the Saudi sports authority in 2019 to host games there.

However, the decision to play Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami was nothing short of controversial across Spain and world football.

LaLiga players themselves protested against it at the beginning of fixtures over the weekend.

They refused to move for the opening 15 seconds and as per reports, television cameras panned away from the protests at some matches.

Barcelona were one side who participated, doing so in their 2-1 win at home to Girona on Saturday.

Real Oviedo and Espanyol were first to do so on Friday night in what was a popular stand against the decision.

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