September 21 – The fierce debate over controversial plans to play a top-flight La Liga game in the United States has taken a significant twist with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) blocking the idea, putting them in direct conflict with the league.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has already expressed his displeasure at playing a league game on foreign soil and the Spanish FA (RFEF) have now followed suit turning down La Liga’s request to allow them to relocate Girona’s game against Barcelona to Miami in January.
Spanish media reports say new federation chief Luis Rubiales will send a letter to LaLiga president Javier Tebas to make their stance officially known.
The RFEF are believed to have said that there is a “zero percent chance that the Girona vs Barcelona match will take place in Miami”, a ruling that may or may not be followed.
In the letter, Spanish football’s governing body will explain that neither UEFA, FIFA nor the Spanish government support the proposal and the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) are also against it.
Tebas, who received the news on Thursday night, responded: “That isn’t an argument: UEFA haven’t announced their stance publicly, FIFA don’t have legal authority and we are negotiating with the AFE.”
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