This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
After protests across the Spanish top flight over the weekend, Hansi Flick's Barcelona La Liga encounter with Marcelino Garcia Toral's Villarreal, which was set to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, has been cancelled and organisers are claiming there is insufficient time to execute the first-of-its-kind event.
Splitting opinion between many, the fixture between the two Spanish sides was initially scheduled to take place on the weekend of December 20-21 at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica home, but instead was set to be played in Miami Gardens, Florida.
First announced in August, it was reported that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had approved the request for December's La Liga clash between Barcelona and Villarreal to be played in the United States. The decision to cancel the fixtures comes after players from Real Oviedo and Espanyol protested ahead of their game on the weekend.
La Liga Confirm Cancellation of Barcelona vs Villarreal Fixture in Miami
Although the Spanish Super Cup has been held in Saudi Arabia in four of the last five seasons, it was set to be the first time a European top flight match had taken place in the US. However, due to the scale of said event, The Athletic had initially reported that it had been postponed.
A Relevant statement read: "Relevant has informed LALIGA of the need to postponed the planned match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona in Miami on December 20. Given the current uncertainty in Spain, there is insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale. It would also be irresponsible to begin selling tickets without a confirmed plan in place."
Chiefs of the Spanish top flight, however, have now released a statement that insists that not only has the fixture been postponed, but that it's been cancelled altogether. "LALIGA deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the internationalization of Spanish football, cannot go ahead," the statement read.
"Hosting an official match outside our borders would have been a decisive step in the global expansion of our competition, strengthening the international presence of our clubs, the positioning of our players, and the brand of Spanish football in a strategic market like the United States.
"The project fully complied with federal regulations and did not affect the integrity of the competition, as confirmed by the competent institutions that oversee its implementation, which were opposed for other reasons. In a context of increasing global competitiveness, where leagues like the Premier League and competitions like the UEFA Champions League continue to increase their reach and resource-generating capacity, initiatives like this are essential to ensuring the sustainability and growth of Spanish football."
"Forgoing these types of opportunities hinders the generation of new revenue, limits clubs' ability to invest and compete, and diminishes the international reach of the entire national football ecosystem. Finally, LALIGA wishes to thank the clubs for their willingness and collaboration in this project, as well as their ongoing commitment to the growth of the competition.
"We will continue working, as always, to bring Spanish football to every corner of the world, championing an open, modern, and competitive vision that benefits clubs, players, and fans."
More to follow...