MADRID (AP) — The Spanish soccer league said Tuesday that plans for Barcelona to play a regular-season game against Villarreal outside Miami in December have been called off, a decision that comes following increased opposition to the match domestically.
League Cites Uncertainty in Spain
The league said the decision was made after conversations with the promoter of the planned Dec. 20 match and cited the "uncertainty that has arisen in Spain over the past few weeks."
Game promoter Relevent said it informed La Liga of the need to "postpone the planned match" because "there is insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale."
It added that "it would also be irresponsible to begin selling tickets without a confirmed match in place."
Opposition Grew Domestically
The league had finally succeeded in getting approval from soccer bodies such as UEFA and the Spanish federation to stage its first regular-season game abroad. But opposition by players, some clubs and fans had grown recently in Spain.
The Spanish league "deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalle..."