November 1 – The much-publicised overseas La Liga game between Girona and Barcelona, which FIFA have insisted cannot go ahead in Miami in January, has taken another twist with US fans being asked to sign a petition in favour of the ground-breaking fixture.
La Liga hope the campaign will show that American fans are behind the plan to host the regular-season match in the United States, the first in a reported once-a-season 15-year deal.
“In an effort to showcase the public support to bring this match to the US, we are launching a petition campaign to encourage US soccer fans to make their voices heard,” the league and its commercial partner, sports and entertainment group Relevent, said in a statement.
“The #BringUStheGame campaign will show the sports world that this match is good for the fans and good for the game in America, and that US Soccer risks alienating millions of fans if they choose to block this game.”
The idea to play games in the US to promote La Liga’s brand has been met with widespread criticism among players and clubs in Spain, with both sides determined to win out. The FIFA Council this week opposed the plan under pressure from CONCACAF and the federations in the United States and Spain, but La Liga says it is prepared to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if FIFA somehow prohibits the match.
“All of America’s top sports leagues – the NBA, NFL and MLB – have played regular season games all over the world to reach international fans and have great success popularising these sports globally,” said Relevent founder Stephen Ross, owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins whose stadium would host the January 26 fixture.
“We hope all of our partners in the soccer community recognise and support the positive impact of bringing the highest level soccer to the US will have on turning more people on to the sport.”
Boris Gartner, CEO of LaLiga North America, added: “We just want to give an opportunity for fans to talk about this game because we feel that so far the conversation has been very one-sided. We want to give a voice to the fans.”
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