La Liga match in the United States: Real Madrid voices firm opposition | OneFootball

Florentino Pérez

This is a major controversy currently unfolding in Spain. Some La Liga matches will be played in the United States this season, and Real Madrid is completely opposed to the idea.

The Spanish federation has already begun procedures so that the league clash on Matchday 17 between Villarreal and FC Barcelona takes place in Miami. This represents a significant financial windfall for the Spanish football authorities and the clubs involved. It will also affect the fans. Since the announcement of this decision, Spanish public opinion has been largely against it.

For its part, Real Madrid has just published a lengthy statement expressing its opposition to holding La Liga matches abroad.

"Real Madrid C.F. wishes to express to its members, supporters, and football fans in general its strongest opposition to the proposal to play outside Spain the match corresponding to Matchday 17 of the top division championship between Villarreal C.F. and F.C. Barcelona. This measure, promoted without prior information or consultation with the clubs participating in this competition, violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity that governs two-legged league competitions (one home and one away match), distorting competitive balance and granting an undue sporting advantage to the requesting clubs. The integrity of the competition requires that all matches be played under the same conditions for all teams. Unilaterally altering this arrangement breaks the equality among contenders, undermines the legitimacy of the results, and creates an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on interests other than purely sporting ones, with a clear impact on sporting integrity and the risk of competition manipulation. If this proposal were implemented, its consequences would be so grave that it would mark a before and after for the world of football," wrote Real Madrid, adding that it has brought the matter before FIFA, UEFA, and the Spanish Higher Sports Council.