UEFA exceptionally approves Villarreal-Barcelona match in Miami
UEFA has exceptionally authorized the La Liga matchday 17 clash between Villarreal and Barcelona to be played in Miami in December. The decision comes reluctantly due to unclear FIFA regulations. It now needs approval from other international bodies.
UEFA has permitted, on an exceptional basis, the match between Villarreal and Barcelona, from La Liga matchday 17 and scheduled for December before the Christmas break, to be played outside Spain, in Miami. This approval comes reluctantly from the European body, which stresses the importance of hosting league games at home to respect local fans and preserve competition integrity.
Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA president, stated in a press release: “League matches must be played at home; anything else would deprive loyal fans of their rights to attend and could introduce distorting elements into competitions.” He added: “Although it is regrettable to allow these two matches to take place, this decision is exceptional and should not be considered a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure football remains rooted in its local environment.”
The decision follows the UEFA Executive Committee's meeting in Tirana last month, where new consultations were held with interested national federations, including those from Spain and Italy (for a Milan-Como game). Ceferin thanked: “Our consultation confirmed the magnitude of these concerns. I would like to thank the 55 national federations for their constructive and responsible commitment on such a delicate issue.”
The statement explains that, since FIFA's regulatory framework is under review and “not sufficiently clear and detailed,” UEFA approved the submitted requests. However, for the match to be held in Miami, approval is still needed from FIFA, CONCACAF, and the United States Soccer Federation.