Plans to stage Barcelona and Villarreal’s league match in Miami have been cancelled, LaLiga has confirmed.
The controversial fixture was set to be performed on the Arduous Rock Stadium on December 20, which might have made it the primary European league match in historical past to be staged abroad.
However amid heated criticism, together with scathing feedback from Actual goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on Tuesday, LaLiga has shelved its plans.
An announcement learn: “Following discussions with the promoter of the official LaLiga match in Miami, the latter has announced its decision to cancel the event due to the uncertainty surrounding Spain in recent weeks.
“LaLiga deeply regrets that this mission, which represented a historic and unparalleled alternative for the internationalization of Spanish soccer, can not go forward.”
Relevent Sports activities, the US-based organisers, stated in an announcement to Sky Sports activities Information: “Relevent has knowledgeable LaLiga of the necessity to postpone the deliberate 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.”
Barcelona have launched an announcement, saying the membership “respects the decision to cancel the match” towards Villarreal in Miami.
“FC Barcelona respects and abides by the decision to cancel the match that would have pitted us against Villarreal in Miami corresponding to matchday 17 of LaLiga, just as it respected and abided by the decision to play it at the time,” the membership stated.
“FC Barcelona regrets the missed opportunity to expand the image of the competition in a strategic market with growth potential and resource generation for the benefit of all.
“The membership thanks the unconditional help and affection it has obtained from our followers in america and deeply regrets that they’re disadvantaged of witnessing the official match within the nation.”
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Sky Sports activities Information chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol outlines why Actual Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois believes La Liga’s plan for a recreation in Miami ‘distorts the competitors’
Final weekend, LaLiga gamers launched protests towards the league’s choice with groups standing nonetheless for the primary 15 seconds of matches.
Commenting on the Miami match forward of Actual’s go to of Juventus within the Champions League on Wednesday, Courtois stated: “LaLiga does whatever it wants because it suits them. This decision distorts the competition.
“Taking part in at house is just not the identical as enjoying away. In LaLiga, enjoying away could be very troublesome, as we noticed towards Actual Sociedad and Getafe. Villarreal away is hard. It is not honest to vary the principles mid-season with out consulting us.
“The NBA has 82 games, and the NFL’s owners collectively approve these decisions [to play matches abroad]. Here, LaLiga acts unilaterally. It’s not the same.”
On October 6, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin had accepted transferring of the LaLiga fixture and in addition sanctioned a Serie A match between AC Milan vs Como to be performed in Australia, however described the choices as “regrettable” and that it “shall not be seen as setting a precedent”.
