September 11 – Landmark proposals to play a top-flight Spanish league game in the USA has taken another twist with reports that the players will have the final say.
Girona’s ‘home’ match against Barcelona has been scheduled to take place in Miami on January 27 as part of a once-a-season 15-year deal with media company Relevent.
At a Monday meeting with La Liga, the players’ union AFE reiterated its “unease” at the plans.
“The players, through AFE, will be those who make a final decision on the match to be played in the United States,” AFE said in a statement, noting the “discomfort of the players due to the lack of information about the agreement”.
The union has requested a report on the plans, which will then be shared with the players, through their captains.
Girona, located in Catalonia about 60 miles north east of Barcelona and in its second season in the Spanish top flight, say the match represents a chance for expansion and growth, both for the club and the region.
La Liga says is will subsidise travel and accommodation for fans but the union says its members should have been consulted about the idea in advance.
Barca’s Spanish international midfielder Sergio Busquets said players had not made up their minds about the game yet.
“We are seeking the best solution for players, fans and football,” he said during a news conference with Spain’s national team.
AFE president David Aganzo said after the meeting: “We want more information to be able to pass on to the players. This is not just a question of Girona or Barcelona. This could affect everybody for the next 15 years.”
However, while the Spanish soul search over the fixture, there still needs to be agreement from the US Soccer Federation as to whether they will allow a regular season match to be played within that territory. That agreement is far from an automatic decision for the federation which wants to grow its own professional leagues and fan bases for clubs within its own borders.
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