CSD president questions La Liga’s approach after Villarreal-Barcelona Miami clash collapsed – ‘Not the way’ | OneFootball

The controversy surrounding La Liga’s now-cancelled plan to take the Villarreal vs Barcelona match to Miami continues to stir discussion in Spain. 

The latest to weigh in on the issue is Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes, president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), who criticised how the project was handled and highlighted the lack of proper consultation with key stakeholders before such a major decision was made.

The event, initially expected to bring financial benefits to both clubs, especially Barcelona, was abruptly called off after the promoter withdrew from the agreement. 

Rodriguez hits out

Interestingly, Rodriguez Uribes made it clear that the issue went far beyond financial concerns. 

“What happened in Miami with the Barça and Villarreal match shows that this is not the way to do things,” he began saying as quoted by Mundo Deportivo. 

“Before taking an initiative of this nature, a decision so important that it could undoubtedly have affected the integrity of the competition, there needed to be dialogue and agreement among the participants, among all the clubs. 

“Of course, the players and the fans also need to be taken into account,” he said.

Barcelona will not play Villarreal in Miami. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The CSD president emphasised that future proposals of this kind should be handled differently, insisting on collaboration and clear regulations. 

“In the future, if there is any idea along these lines, it must be based on the need for dialogue and agreement. 

“And immediately, transparency, absolute transparency. And first, as a prerequisite, there must be adequate rules for this type of initiative,” he added.

Rodríguez Uribes further pointed out that “at present, neither the Royal Spanish Football Federation nor LaLiga have them. 

“It is necessary to draw up rules that allow for this type of situation and to do so with the agreement and consensus of all. 

“In any case, at the CSD we will always prefer to bring sporting events to Spain and not take them away.”

For Barcelona, the cancellation means losing out on potential revenue estimated between €5 and €6 million, but the episode also underlines a larger debate about how Spanish football should evolve going forward.