Real Madrid say they are opposed to plans by their bitter rivals Barcelona to play a league match in the US this season, saying the move “sets an unacceptable precedent”.
Barcelona and Villarreal are seeking permission from the football authorities to play in Miami in December. Fan groups of the clubs have already threatened legal action if the plan progresses, and now Real have expressed their opposition to the move.
“Real Madrid would like to express to its members, supporters and football fans in general its strongest rejection of the proposal to play outside Spain the match … between Villarreal and Barcelona,” the club said in a statement.
“The measure, promoted without prior information or consultation with the clubs participating in that competition, violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity that governs two-round league competitions [one game at home and the other at the opposing team’s]altering the competitive balance and granting an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs.
“The integrity of the competition requires that all matches be held under the same conditions for all teams. Unilaterally modifying this regime breaks the equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results and sets an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on interests other than strictly sporting, with a clear impact on sporting integrity and the risk of adulteration of the competition.
“If this proposal is carried out, its consequences would be so serious that they would mean a before and after for the world of football.”
Real said they had asked Fifa not to authorise the staging of the game without the prior consent of all La Liga clubs, and had asked Uefa to urge the Spanish football federation (Rfef) to withdraw the request.
Villarreal had earlier pledged that season ticket holders would be offered free travel and entry if the league game was moved to Miami. The club also said those who cannot go, or do not wish to go, would receive a 20% discount on the total cost of their season ticket.
If Villarreal and Barcelona ultimately get the green light, La Liga will be the first of Europe’s top five leagues to stage a match overseas.
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The Villarreal president, Fernando Roig, told the club’s official website: “Reaching the United States is an opportunity we must seize. We have to expand the brand of our football and of Villarreal CF. Many clubs agree on the need to internationalise and to look for ways to generate more revenue so we can get closer to other leagues, such as the Premier League.”
Rfef gave its approval to the plan on Monday. The matter has now been referred to European football’s governing body Uefa to begin the procedures and obtain the necessary authorisation from Fifa, world football’s governing body.
The Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, said last year his competition had no plans to move matches overseas but accepted Fifa moves to review the rules meant the “door was ajar” for other leagues to do so.
