Villarreal slam La Liga over “Lack of Respect” after Miami match cancellation

Villarreal have condemned La Liga for what they described as a “complete and utter lack of respect” following the abrupt cancellation of their planned league fixture against Barcelona in Miami. 

The match, which was set to take place at the Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December, would have been the first top-flight European league game staged in the United States. However, the decision was overturned this week amid growing opposition from players and clubs.

The Spanish football federation had initially approved the match in August, viewing it as an opportunity to promote the league globally. 

But mounting backlash led to a reversal on Tuesday, with La Liga informing Villarreal of the decision just minutes before their Champions League clash with Manchester City. 

In a strongly worded statement, Villarreal said they were “deeply displeased” by the timing and manner of the announcement, which they claimed showed “a lack of sensitivity and empathy” toward the club.

Villarreal had agreed to the overseas fixture under specific conditions, including financial compensation for season ticket holders and free travel to Miami. 

The club argued that the sudden cancellation undermined months of planning and communication. 

Minutes later, to our surprise, La Liga decided to issue a unilateral statement announcing the cancellation. It demonstrated a complete and utter lack of respect for the club and the competition.” Villarreal said.

La Liga president Javier Tebas expressed disappointment, saying the cancellation represented a missed chance for Spanish football to grow internationally. 

While Villarreal criticized the handling of the situation, they agreed that taking games abroad could benefit Spanish football’s global reach. 

“It is a good opportunity for the growth of clubs and La Liga internationally,” the club said, while lamenting that poor coordination had derailed the project.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted his players were “not happy” with the idea of playing overseas, and Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal called it a potential “stain” on the competition.