The Miami plan from Laliga has encountered a large number of problems. What initially resembled the long-awaited breakthrough of Javier Tebas-Eindelijk a La Liga match outside of Spain, under the fourth attempt is again a serious resistance. The players have revolted, denounced what they describe as a “lack of respect” and refuse to participate; Real Madrid has set the tone for other clubs and managers to express their opposition; And the Higher Sports Council (CSD), which originally claimed that it had no role in the issue, is now forced to revise the case at the end of August. Playing in Miami proves anything but simple.
“This season is the season,” Leaga must have thought, following the famous line of Dexter from the Miami-Set series. The destination was set: Villarreal vs. Barcelona on competition day 17, December 20. Perhaps, Tebas believed, this would be the campaign in which he eventually exported a league match to the United States – after the leadership of the NFL and NBA – in an attempt to chips away at the Dominance of the Premier League in North America. But if he expected a smooth ride, he now discovers a lot of thorns. Earlier attempts (Girona-Barça in 2018–19; Villarreal-Atlético in 2019-20; and Barça-Athtico in 2024–25) collapsed under the opposition of Luis Rubiales, restrictive FIFA rules, or easy lack of time. Those obstacles have disappeared, but new and no less serious arose.
This time it is the players themselves who block the move. The first division captains – including those of Villarreal and Barcelona – have stated that they will not play. And without football players there is no football. Their frustration is not only rooted in disagreement with the idea, although many people oppose it. What is really furious with them is Liga's handling of the case: confidentiality, lack of dialogue and exclusion of decisions that directly affect their work. The Players' Association, AFE, has demanded full details about the Miami project to tackle worries, but Laliga has refused to make them known. When this newspaper is forced, the competition simply answers that it will not comment. However, the players do not let it slide. In a joint statement they stated:
“In view of the lack of dialogue and information provided to the players, the initiation of a project has been promoted by Laliga and it is a lack of respect for the players without transparency by the RFEF council. This project includes both sporting changes and the relocation of employees outside the national territory within the framework of a home.”
The football players Request answers: why Villarreal and Barcelona have been chosen, how television rights and income will be influenced, which travel, rest and insurance guarantees are. For now, Laliga has not provided any clarity.
Other clubs raise their voices
Support for the plan is thin. Only Barcelona and Villarreal have supported it publicly. Joan Laporta expressed his enthusiasm, even before the RFEF submitted the request to FIFA and UEFA: “We are a club that belongs to Laliga, and we are committed to promoting the competition. I repeat: I am open and Barça is in LaLiga's alienation,” he said CNN in the beginning of August.
Villarreal President Fernando Roig also welcomed the initiative: “I think it is a great idea that has been in the making for four or five years.
But the criticism collapsed beyond those two. Getafe President Ángel Torres has destroyed the project: “We have already complained about the World Cup that is being held abroad and the money that is taken elsewhere, and now we are going to do the same? I am completely against it.
Rayo Vallecano President Raúl Martín Presa suggested that if the competition is over to organize competitions abroad, this should be from Loterij and equally for all teams. His coach, íñigo Pérez, also criticized the move: “I don't like it. Just like I don't like to play in 38 degrees heat, I don't like to take a game abroad. But I will not be hypocritical and call it a shame.”
Girona coach Míchel emphasized the importance of fans: “I play for my fans. We owe everything. I want them to be able to enjoy every game, regardless of the opponent. For me it is fundamental to think of the fans.”
In the meantime, the real Sociedad President Jokin Aperbay regretted the lack of consultation: “We were not involved in the decision, nor other clubs. At the same time, clubs are struggling to complete squadrons because of the salary cap, and Laliga wants to take on other challenges. I understand the desire to grow, but this is not the way.”
Real Madrid brings the fight to another level
As expected, Real Madrid is the fiercest opponent. In a letter to FIFA, UEFA and the CSD (effectively the Sportministerie of Spain), the club demanded that the Miami game was not authorized:
“The measure, implemented without prior information or consultation with clubs, violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity that arranges with a double round match-one game at home and one road. It changes the competition balance and grants the unnecessary sporting benefit to the requesting clubs.”
The letter continued:
“The integrity of competition requires equal conditions for all teams. Changing this one -sided breaks that equality, undermines the legitimacy of the results and is an unacceptable precedent that runs the risk of falsifying the competition.”
In the first instance, the CSD insisted that it had no role and said that his jurisdiction only extended to international competitions that were played in Spain. But Real Madrid's intervention has forced the government body to reconsider whether it should intervene.
Miguel Ángel Galán has added to the pressure and has already warned that he will submit a complaint to Spain's Sports Administrative Tribunal (TAD) as LaLiga continues without the government's approval. Another obstacle in a long frame is now between Javier Tebas and his Miami dream.