Tebas issues status update on plans for Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami – ‘Now in UEFA’s hands’ | OneFootball

Javier Tebas, President of La Liga, confirmed that the move to Miami for the Villarreal-Barcelona match is in UEFA’s hands and that all parties are expecting to hear a final decision from the governing body soon.

The La Liga executive even referred to the potential date of the match, while waiting for UEFA’s final position on the matter, with the decision being delayed.

Justifying the move

Speaking during the third edition of the Business Sport Forum by Expansión and Marca (h/t SPORT), Tebas justified the decision to go ahead with the move to expand the Spanish football market into the USA.

“We expect a decision as soon as possible because of the whole strategy of taking a match to the United States with the clubs and the work that has to be done the month before with club officials and former players,” he said.

“It is the emergence of the brand in the United States, which is the second market after Spain. It is not just the match, which is the excuse we take to increase the value of the competition.”

Giving a potential date for the match, the La Liga president remarked: “Theoretically, it is 21 December, as requested by the clubs.

“It is now in UEFA’s hands, and we hope for a decision as soon as possible because there is work to be done across the United States to increase our value.”

Countering all the criticism about the match being played in Miami is unfair to fans in Spain, Tebas hit back, saying:

“It is the second market after Spain. Fans in the United States also pay to watch Spanish football, they also suffer when their team loses, they also celebrate, they also buy merchandise.”

Javier Tebas pushing to host Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

“It is one match, taking it to another continent and being able to grow our brand. The other day I had a conversation with the European Commissioner for Sport and I explained it to him. That defence they were making is almost sectarian.

“We have extended the virtual stand to the whole world. Or are there no Barça fans in Miami? Villarreal has 50 schools in the United States, can they not go and watch Villarreal? Are they not supporters?”

Continuing, he insisted that he did not see a problem in hosting one match outside of Spain, to allow fans from other regions to enjoy the experience.

“I do not see it as a problem, on the contrary. It is a tradition of football that we can extend to another continent, just one match, and allow fans in those countries to experience it,” he said.

“Twenty years ago, the supporter was the one in the stadium, but we have expanded that virtual stand across the world. In the United States, Villarreal has 50 football schools, and 10 of them in Florida.

“Are they not supporters, what are they then? The broadcasters do not pay us, it is the fans who subscribe to those broadcasters who pay us.”