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Real Madrid have issued a firm statement against the proposal to stage Villarreal’s upcoming La Liga fixture with Barcelona in the United States, warning it would “set an unacceptable precedent” for Spanish football.
Although the match is scheduled for 21 December at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) recently gave its approval for the game to be moved to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, a 2026 World Cup venue. The governing body must now seek approval from FIFA and UEFA before the plan can proceed.
Madrid, however, have made clear they are unwilling to accept the idea. In their official statement, the club voiced their “strongest rejection of the proposal,” stressing: “If this proposal is carried out, its consequences would be so serious that they would mean a before and after for the world of football.”
The 14-time European champions argue the move would damage the fairness of the competition, claiming Villarreal giving up their home ground would mean “altering the competitive balance and granting an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs.”
They added: “The integrity of the competition requires that all matches be held under the same conditions for all teams. Unilaterally modifying this regime breaks the equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results and sets an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on interests other than strictly sporting, with a clear impact on sporting integrity and the risk of adulteration of the competition.”
Madrid have asked FIFA not to authorise the move without the consent of all La Liga clubs, while urging UEFA to press the RFEF to withdraw its request.
Fans and Players Push Back
Opposition has also grown among supporters. Spain’s football fans’ association (FASFE), along with Barcelona and Villarreal fan groups, have vowed to “take appropriate legal action” should the game be taken abroad.
Yet Villarreal president Fernando Roig remains adamant the opportunity is a positive step. He confirmed that season-ticket holders would be offered free travel to Miami.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Professional Footballers’ Association (AFE) has also come out strongly against the proposal after meeting with the captains of all 20 La Liga clubs. The union branded the plan “disrespectful,” citing the lack of consultation with players.
Its statement read: “The Spanish Players Association (AFE) and all the First Division captains met this Thursday afternoon to assess the request that, as announced by the RFEF on August 11, it would submit to UEFA and FIFA for the playing of a La Liga match this season outside of Spain.”
“Given this situation, we believe that, due to the lack of dialogue and information for the players, the initiation of the procedures for a project promoted by the League and approved without any information by the RFEF Board of Directors is disrespectful to the footballers when it involves changes at the sporting level and a displacement as workers outside the national territory within the framework of a domestic league. We are united. We want respect and transparency.”
A Long-Running Battle
La Liga has been trying to host a competitive league fixture in the United States since 2018, previously attempting to move a Barcelona vs Girona game to Miami. That effort was blocked after similar resistance from FIFA, UEFA, and the Spanish footballing establishment.
As the dispute intensifies, league president Javier Tebas continues to insist the move can happen, pointing to its commercial benefits. But with Real Madrid, fans, and now the players’ union aligned in opposition, the battle over whether Spanish football should go transatlantic remains far from settled.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Ibrahima Toure, Pixabay / Nikolaus Bader
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