Protests Erupt Over Planned La Liga Match in Miami
Spanish football authorities announced this week that a regular season match between Villarreal and FC Barcelona is scheduled to take place in Miami this December, generating significant backlash from the continent’s leading supporter advocacy organization, reports 24brussels.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) formally lodged a complaint with the European Commission regarding “ongoing attempts to deterritorialise European football.” This letter highlights concerns that hosting matches outside of Europe undermines competitive integrity, as it may force clubs to forfeit important home matches and erode the connection between teams and their most devoted domestic supporters.
EU Sport Commissioner Glenn Micallef expressed his strong opposition to the plans during a meeting on Wednesday with FSE head Ronan Evain. Micallef criticized the proposals as undermining the essence of European football. “I’m deeply disappointed by proposals to stage domestic league matches outside Europe,” he stated on social media. He further noted, “This is the first big stress test for governance since the Super League. Strong, community-based clubs are the heart of the European Sport Model. Moving competitions abroad isn’t innovation, it’s betrayal.”
The Italian league responded robustly to Micallef’s comments. They expressed their “astonishment” at what they deemed his “excessive position,” while Spanish league chief Javier Tebas argued that the proposal should be viewed in a broader context, asserting, “I understand the concern, but let’s put things in perspective: we are talking about 1 match out of 380.” He emphasized that thousands of fans worldwide, including Europeans, deserve the opportunity to witness their teams play live at least once.
