Getafe president Angel Torres has criticised La Liga’s plan to stage a league fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal in the US later this season.
The proposed game, planned to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, would be the first top-flight Spanish league match played outside the country.
Both clubs are reportedly in favour of the move, which La Liga sees as a step toward expanding its reach in the United States.
Torres, however, says the idea goes against the essence of the competition.
“A match in Miami? I’m completely against it, and I don’t think it will happen,” said Torres. “You play one match at your stadium and one at your opponent’s. Thank you.”
It has been suggested that clubs like Torres’ Getafe, whose support base is almost entirely local, oppose the move because they consider it to favour clubs with large global followings like Barcelona and Real Madrid.
However, Madrid have in fact also voiced their opposition to the move, making a public statement against it and sending a request to Fifa to withhold their approval.
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) greenlighted the proposal this week and sent it to Fifa through Uefa for their approval.
If the project gets the required approval from Fifa, it would be the first time a top-tier European league fixture has been held in the US.
