La Liga has scrapped plans to hold a regular-season match between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami this December, moving the fixture back to Villarreal’s home stadium.
The league cited “insufficient time” to organise the event and “uncertainty in Spain” for the cancellation.
The decision follows a massive backlash and player protests in Spain against moving the match abroad.
The cancellation, a blow to La Liga’s global expansion goals, was announced during Villarreal’s Champions League match, prompting manager Marcelino to condemn the timing as “absolute disrespect.”
Barcelona stated it “respects and accepts” the decision but “regrets the missed opportunity” to grow the league’s image in the US market.
Despite the reversal, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague suggests the attempt to hold a game abroad is “not the end of the story” for La Liga’s leadership.
