Spain’s Royal Football Federation (RFEF) took a "historic step" on Monday, approving La Liga’s first ever overseas match—Villarreal’s Round 17 clash with Barcelona will be played in Miami, USA. The proposal has been submitted to UEFA for final approval, but it immediately ignited fan fury.
Barça’s member association Seguiment FCB, Villarreal fan groups, and Spain’s independent fan network FASFE released a joint statement, voicing "absolute, total, and firm opposition" to the move. They warned of legal action if their demands are ignored.
The statement slammed the plan as "distorting the essence of the league": "Football is rooted in fan support; it is first and foremost a social and cultural activity, far more than just part of the entertainment industry." Moving a domestic league match abroad, they argued, is an "intolerable violation."
The fan groups added that staging the game overseas would undermine the league’s integrity, harm home season ticket holders who’ve already paid, and breach EU sports policy reports that call for blocking domestic league matches abroad. They are demanding the RFEF reverse its approval, have filed a complaint with Spain’s Higher Sports Council, and warned: "If the plan proceeds, we’ll see you in court."
However, the fans’ demands are unlikely to be easily met. La Liga president Javier Tebas’ "overseas dream" hinges on UEFA and FIFA, who will rule based on FIFA’s regulations.
