Barcelona-Villarreal Miami Game Cancelled as Furious Club Chief Reaction Spotted
La Liga have confirmed that plans to host a regular-season match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami have been abandoned, and one club official isn't happy.
In August, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) approved plans for Villareal's home La Liga fixture against reigning champions Barcelona to be held in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December.
The game would have marked the first time that a top-flight game had been held outside of Spain and was met with huge backlash from players and fans.
Last weekend, players paused for 15 seconds at the start of each LaLiga game in protest while fans expressed concerns about travelling to the game.
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But now, it has been confirmed that the match will no longer be hosted in Miami, infuriating Villarreal president Fernando Roig Negueroles.
In an official statement, LaLiga explained that Relevent, the league's partner in the North American market, had made the decision to cancel the match due to the negative reactions within Spain to holding a match abroad.
"Following discussions with the promoter of the match in Miami, the latter has announced its decision to cancel the organisation of the event due to the uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks," LaLiga announced.
"LaLiga deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the internationalisation of Spanish football, cannot go ahead."
The Spanish top-flight expressed frustration at the cancellation, which will see the game moved back to Villareal's Estadio de la Ceramica, claiming that the match would have been 'decisive step in the global expansion of our competition' and could grow the international presence of La Liga clubs.
But while La Liga was frustrated by the decision, Villarreal president Negueroles was furious after being told about the cancellation during his side's 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Champions League.
As reported by Spanish outlet Marca, once he wsa told the news, the Spanish billionaire businessman stood up and made gestures of disapproval before, visibly upset, talking on the phone while displaying signs of anger
Speaking after the match, Negueroles addressed the cancellation following the match, saying: "I think it is a complete lack of respect to make a statement at halftime about something that was planned and then not do so.
"I think it is a lack of respect to the Villarreal directors, the club, the professionals and the fans . From here on, the club will make an official statement tomorrow about what it thinks. This is my thinking."
Meanwhile, Barcelona have said that the club "respects and accepts" the decision to cancel the match but "regrets the missed opportunity to expand the competition's image" in a market that has a "great capacity for growth and generation of resources for everyone".
Although the game would have been the first La Liga match held abroad, it would not have been the first Spanish game on foreign soil as the Spanish Super Cup has been held in Saudi Arabia in four of the past five seasons.
Following the announcement of the Miami match, the Italian football federation (FIGC) approved a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como which remains set to be played in Perth, Australia, in February.
Topics: La Liga, Villarreal, Football, FC Barcelona
Ben McCrum