It’s a reward for fans paying to watch all our matches, says Rafael Louzan
Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan has defended La Liga’s controversial decision to stage a league match in Miami later this year.
Louzan called it a “reward” for international fans and said it was a positive step for the global growth of Spanish football.
The fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona, set for 20 December at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, will mark the first official European league game to be played outside the continent.
The move has already been approved by both the RFEF and Uefa, but it has divided opinion across Europe. Even within Spanish football several clubs, most notably 36-time champions Real Madrid, strongly oppose the plan.
“It’s a reward for those fans who are behind the screen, also in Asia or America, who are paying a fee to watch all the Spanish La Liga matches,” said Louzan. “It’s a gesture to them.
“It’s good for football and it promotes the Spanish league around the world. Italy is also going to do it with Serie A in Australia. It’s a good move for the best league in the world to do it.”
Uefa was not pleased to give the approval for the matches to go ahead. European football’s governing body said it was doing so “reluctantly” and had no legal authority to refuse.
Barcelona player Frenkie de Jong said he understood why there was so much opposition against the move.
“I don’t like it,” said De Jong. “I can understand the clubs financially. They will profit and grow their brand, but it’s not good for the players.”
