Barcelona will play Villarreal in Miami on December 20, La Liga said on Wednesday. It will be the first time ever that a European league match is played outside Europe — quite something, right?
Earlier this week, UEFA, the European football organisation, said they don’t really like the idea of playing league games abroad. But they will allow it this time as an exception, same as a Serie A match in Australia next February between AC Milan and Como.
“With this match, we take a historic step that brings La Liga and Spanish football into a new dimension,” said La Liga president Javier Tebas.
He also said: “We understand and respect the concerns people can have, but we must see it in perspective — it’s only one match out of the 380 we play every season.”
The game was first planned in Villarreal’s own stadium, but now it will be played in the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, USA. Villarreal said they will make sure their fans are not left behind after the change.
“Villarreal season ticket holders can travel for free to the match, and the ones who prefer not to go to Miami will get 30% discount on their season ticket. It’s a way to thank them for their loyalty,” La Liga explained.
In September, 18 fan groups from both clubs already said they are “completely against” the idea of playing the match abroad.
La Liga has been trying to organise games outside Spain already since 2017, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) mostly said no — even though they themselves play the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. A bit funny, that.
Also Real Madrid are not happy with this Miami plan. In August they said that playing the game there would “change the competitive balance” of the league and create an “unacceptable precedent”.
