October 22 – Pressure is building on FIFA and the US Soccer Federation from LaLiga to sanction a regular season game in the United States.
Until now, regular season games played outside domestic markets have been outlawed by football’s governing bodies, including in the US courts with a decision that was partially overruled on appeal.
In April, FIFA withdrew from a legal challenge by leading match promoter Relevent, which is seeking to stage overseas league matches in the United States. Relevent has a long term marketing deal with LaLiga.
In an attempt to force the issue LaLiga has reportedly scheduled Barcelona’s December clash with Atletico Madrid to take place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium and is hopeful FIFA will approve the plan.
The match is currently scheduled for December 22 before La Liga pauses for its winter break.
Both Atletico and Barcelona are scheduled to play in a four-team Spanish Super Cup in early January, which is being held in Saudi Arabia.
Spanish friendlies have frequently been played in the past in the USA as pre-season warm-up games but LaLiga has previously had two attempts to take a competitive fixture abroad knocked back even though La Liga’s president, Javier Tebas, has made no secret of his desire to host a league fixture in the United States.
Last summer Tebas said: “It’s a mark of respect to the US fans [of LaLiga]. We are seeing NBA and NFL playing in Europe or in Mexico. This would resonate in the American market.”
FIFA have always opposed the idea, stating that official league games must be played in the territory of the respective member association. That offers protection to local leagues who are building their own club support bases and keeps money spent on by sponsors, broadcasters and fans in the local game, rather than becoming subject to a ‘smash-and-grab’ raid by a non-domestic league.
Barcelona, currently playing at the nearby Olympic Stadium which only holds 45,000 while renovations are made at the Nou Camp, are desperate to reduce their massive debt. But there is likely to be dissent from some of the remaining 18 clubs in Spain’s first division because the two teams taking part in the Miami match would be gaining a financial advantage over the rest.
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