The eyes of every team in the Spanish league have certainly been on FC Barcelona in recent weeks, and not precisely because of the fight for that first place in the standings with Real Madrid, the current leader, after the Catalan club suffered a 4-1 defeat against Sevilla.
The club has been in the headlines of several sports media outlets after it was confirmed on October 8 that the matchday 17 against Villarreal would be played for the first time outside of Spain, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, United States.
Criticism, comments and reactions of all kinds started to appear on social media, mainly from the domestic fans, and within the media. Many clubs expressed their discontent with this decision, which distorted a competition that had never been played outside of Spain. The discontentment of some FC Barcelona players and coach Hansi Flick himself was also noted. Last week's matches saw the start of a protest, with a 15-second stoppage before the start of the match between Real Oviedo and Espanyol, a protest that other teams joined, including FC Barcelona itself.
The pressure and uncertainty surrounding the match being played in Miami, and the arrival of the date of the expected ticket pre-sale date for Tuesday, October 21, has led the event promoter, Relevent, to cancel ticket sales because "there isn't enough time to properly organize an event of this magnitude," and with it, the cancellation of the entire event.
""Today, Spanish football has lost an opportunity to advance, project itself globally, and strengthen its future."Javier Tebas, La Liga President
This decision marks a new chapter in the controversial relationship between business and tradition within Spanish football. While the idea of taking La Liga outside of Spain represented an opportunity to expand its international reach and connect with new fans, it also highlighted the tensions between commercial interests and respect for the local competition.
For now, the attempt to play an official match in the United States is on hold, but it leaves open the question of how far modern football is willing to adapt to globalization without losing its essence.