Thursday, September 11, 2025, 18:09
Fumata Blanca was expected to know if the match between Villarreal and Barcelona, corresponding to the 17th League day, will be played in Miami, but after the UEFA Executive Committee, gathered this Thursday in Tirana, Black Fumata came out. The maximum continental agency abstained and said that “a round of consultations with all the interested parties of European football, including fans.”
“There are many issues to resolve and, as a European governing body, UEFA has the responsibility of taking into account all these factors,” he said with the idea of establishing a regulatory framework on league matches abroad. The committee, through a note, points out that “it is an important and growing issue, but expressed the desire to ensure that you have the opinions of all interested parties before making a final decision.”
UEFA has been legally advising in case it was possible to prevent league matches on another continent after the FIFA Council approved this option in May 2024. At the moment, UEFA maintains the possibility open but has not given green light waiting for the aforementioned consultations.
After this decision we will have to wait to know if there will be LaLiga party in Miami at the end of December, as requested by the Spanish Football Federation. A similar situation is lived in Italy, where the Transalpino country federation requested that the meeting of Series A between Milan and how it is played in Perth (Australia) on February 6.
Villarreal and Barcelona, willing
The two Spanish teams involved have been delighted with this pioneering idea. The Villarreal, through its president Fernando Roig, described him as “a great opportunity for the club, for LaLiga and for all of us who love this sport” and to counteract the discomfort that the measure generated between part of his fans, announced a package of compensation: flights and free tickets for those subscribers who want to move to Miami and a 20% discount in the payment of this season Joined.
For its part, Barcelona also looks good at the proposal to play in Miami fits the club’s global strategy to strengthen its brand in strategic markets. In addition, unlike Villarreal, it would have the support of most fans who are in the stands for being one of the most recognized teams on the planet.
“Attack against the integrity of the competition”
But not everything is applause to this proposal. From the first moment, the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) was opposite and the captains of several teams, gathered under the union umbrella, have denounced the lack of dialogue and the absence of clear information. They argue that it is a decision taken with their backs to the main protagonists of the game and warn of the risks that involve the health and performance of the players, beyond the possible adulteration of moving a match outside our borders.
Clubs have also shown their resistance. Real Madrid was the first to react with a statement in which he expressed his “strongest rejection” to the celebration of the party in Miami because it violates the principle of competitive equality. For the white team it is an “attack on the integrity of the competition” and even urged FIFA and the Higher Sports Council to rethink the authorization granted. The Getafe, through its president Ángel Torres, was also shown in similar terms, qualifying the decision of “aberration” and warning that a dangerous door to the denaturation of the league opens.
For its part, the government has also been critical. The Minister of Education, Professional Training and Sports of Spain, Pilar Alegría, acknowledged in ‘The Being’ that he would like the party to be played in Spain and does not quite understand that a match of this caliber ends up being held abroad: «What I am trying is to attract international competitions to Spain. Well, imagine, about national competitions, where I like to be played. Logically, in our country. We have great cities, big stadiums and great hobbies. Therefore, I am in favor of the national competitions being played in Spain ».
