Latest news with #JavierTebas
4 hours ago
- Politics
Real Madrid opposes Spanish league game in US, Villarreal says fans can travel for free to Miami
MADRID -- Real Madrid said it "firmly rejects" having a regular-season Spanish league game played in the United States and warned of 'a turning point in the world of football.' Villarreal, in contrast, is promising free travel and tickets for season-ticket holders if its match against Barcelona in Miami is approved in what would be a first for the league. The 17th-round match in La Liga would be played at the Hard Rock Stadium. Madrid said Tuesday it has taken action to keep the Dec. 20 match from happening, claiming it would hurt the 'integrity of the competition' and the 'legitimacy of the results.' 'The measure, which was taken without prior information or consultation of the clubs participating in the competition, infringes the essential principle of territorial reciprocity, which applies in two-legged league competitions (one match at home and the other at the home of the opposing team), upsetting the competitive balance and giving an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs,' Madrid said. The club said the match would set 'an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on non-sporting interests, clearly affecting sporting integrity and risking the adulteration of the competition.' 'If this proposal were to be carried out, its consequences would be so serious that it would be a turning point in the world of football,' Madrid said. The club said it has asked FIFA, UEFA and Spain's top sports body to not authorize the game in the U.S. The Spanish soccer federation on Monday approved a request for the match to be played in Miami. UEFA and FIFA now have to approve the request before it can be made official. 'Any modification of this nature must, in any case, have the express and unanimous agreement of all the clubs participating in the competition, as well as strictly respecting the national and international rules governing the organization of official competitions,' Madrid said. Madrid and Spanish league president Javier Tebas have often been at odds on various issues. The club said UEFA should deny the request to play the game abroad based on the 'criterion established in 2018 that prevents official matches in domestic competitions from being played outside national territory, except in duly justified exceptional circumstances, which are not present here.' Madrid said it asked the country's high sports council 'not to grant the necessary administrative authorization without such unanimous consent.' 'Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to respect the national and international rules that guarantee the fairness and proper functioning of official competitions, and will defend its compliance with them before all competent bodies,' the club said. Villarreal earlier Tuesday said its season ticket-holders can travel for free and receive free tickets for the match. It said those who don't want to go, or can't go, will get a 20% discount on their season tickets. 'We would be the first (Spanish) team to play a league match abroad,' Villarreal president Fernando Roig told a news conference. "It would greatly help us expand our brand in a key market like the United States.' Staging a match abroad has long been part of the league's goal to promote soccer and its brand in other countries. It first tried to stage a match in the U.S. in 2018, with a game between Barcelona and Girona, but the idea was dismissed after criticism from players, fans and clubs. Subsequent attempts to play there also failed. The league had offered compensation packages for Girona fans in 2018. It wasn't clear whether it would be Villarreal or the league paying for the travel and tickets for the club's fans this time. The attempts to play in the U.S. are part of the league's long-term partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent Sports, which is part of Stephen Ross' portfolio of companies including Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins, the Formula One's Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open tennis tournament. Earlier this year, it was announced that New York-based Relevent Sports has exclusive negotiating rights over the global commercial rights to the UEFA men's club competitions for the period 2027-2033. FIFA moved last year toward ending decades of soccer tradition by ordering a review of its policy that blocks domestic league games being played in other countries. Some fan groups in Spain and the country's players association on Monday expressed their disapproval of the plan to move the match thousands of kilometers away. It has become routine, though, for U.S. pro sports leagues to stage games in Europe, Asia and South America that help build their brands and fan bases.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Real Madrid oppose La Liga game in US, Villarreal say fans can travel for free to Miami
Real Madrid said it 'firmly rejects' having a regular-season Spanish league game played in the United States and warned of 'a turning point in the world of football.' Villarreal, in contrast, is promising free travel and tickets for season-ticket holders if its match against Barcelona in Miami is approved in what would be a first for the league. The 17th-round match in La Liga would be played at the Hard Rock Stadium. Madrid said on Tuesday it has taken action to keep the Dec. 20 match from happening, claiming it would hurt the 'integrity of the competition' and the 'legitimacy of the results.' 'The measure, which was taken without prior information or consultation of the clubs participating in the competition, infringes the essential principle of territorial reciprocity, which applies in two-legged league competitions (one match at home and the other at the home of the opposing team), upsetting the competitive balance and giving an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs,' Madrid said. The club said it has asked FIFA, UEFA and Spain's top sports body to not authorize the game in the U.S. The Spanish football federation on Monday approved a request for the match to be played in Miami. UEFA and FIFA now have to approve the request before it can be made official. 'Any modification of this nature must, in any case, have the express and unanimous agreement of all the clubs participating in the competition, as well as strictly respecting the national and international rules governing the organization of official competitions,' Madrid said. Madrid and Spanish league president Javier Tebas have often been at odds on various issues. The club said UEFA should deny the request to play the game abroad based on the 'criterion established in 2018 that prevents official matches in domestic competitions from being played outside national territory, except in duly justified exceptional circumstances, which are not present here.' Madrid said it asked the country's high sports council 'not to grant the necessary administrative authorization without such unanimous consent.' 'Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to respect the national and international rules that guarantee the fairness and proper functioning of official competitions, and will defend its compliance with them before all competent bodies,' the club said. Villarreal earlier Tuesday said its season ticket-holders can travel for free and receive free tickets for the match. It said those who don't want to go, or can't go, will get a 20% discount on their season tickets. 'We would be the first (Spanish) team to play a league match abroad,' Villarreal president Fernando Roig told a news conference. 'It would greatly help us expand our brand in a key market like the United States.' Staging a match abroad has long been part of the league's goal to promote football and its brand in other countries. It first tried to stage a match in the U.S. in 2018, with a game between Barcelona and Girona, but the idea was dismissed after criticism from players, fans and clubs. Subsequent attempts to play there also failed. The league had offered compensation packages for Girona fans in 2018. It wasn't clear whether it would be Villarreal or the league paying for the travel and tickets for the club's fans this time. The attempts to play in the US are part of the league's long-term partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent Sports, which is part of Stephen Ross' portfolio of companies including Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins, the Formula One's Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open tennis tournament. Earlier this year, it was announced that New York-based Relevent Sports has exclusive negotiating rights over the global commercial rights to the UEFA men's club competitions for the period 2027-2033. FIFA moved last year toward ending decades of football tradition by ordering a review of its policy that blocks domestic league games being played in other countries. Some fan groups in Spain and the country's players association on Monday expressed their disapproval of the plan to move the match thousands of kilometers away. It has become routine, though, for U.S. pro sports leagues to stage games in Europe, Asia and South America that help build their brands and fan bases.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Official: Real Madrid reject La Liga plans to hold Barcelona vs Villarreal in USA
Real Madrid have on Tuesday released a statement, officially rejecting the plans of La Liga to stage their first-ever fixture outside of Spain. This comes, for those who may have missed it, after it was revealed that Javier Tebas and co. are actively working towards moving the scheduled meeting between Villarreal and Barcelona in December to the USA. Specifically, the plan is for the gameweek 17 fixture to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Many have already made clear their disillusionment with as much, adamant that any move outside of Spain calls into question the integrity of the La Liga season as a whole. And as alluded to above, on Tuesday evening, one such outfit have in turn made their grievances very much known. In a lengthy statement released across the club's social media platforms, Real Madrid hit out at La Liga, as follows: Real Madrid CF wishes to express to its members, supporters, and football fans in general its firm rejection of the proposal to play the matchday 17 match of the National First Division League Championship between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona outside of Spain. The measure, implemented without prior information or consultation with the clubs participating in the competition, violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity that governs double-round league competitions (one match at home and the other at the opposing team's home), altering the competitive balance and granting an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs. The integrity of the competition demands that all matches be played under the same conditions for all teams. Unilaterally modifying this regime violates the equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results, and sets an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on interests other than strictly sporting interests, clearly affecting sporting integrity and risking adulteration of the competition. If this proposal is implemented, its consequences would be so serious that they would mark a turning point for the world of football. Any such modification must, in all cases, have the express and unanimous agreement of all clubs participating in the competition, in addition to strictly adhering to the national and international regulations governing the organization of official competitions. In defense of this principle, Real Madrid has already carried out three specific actions: 1. Request that FIFA, as the guarantor of international football rules, not authorize the match without the prior consent of all clubs participating in the competition. 2. Request to UEFA, as guarantor of the integrity of European competitions and regulatory consistency with FIFA, to urge the RFEF to withdraw or deny the request, reaffirming the criteria established in 2018 that prevents official matches in domestic competitions from being played outside of national territory, except in duly justified exceptional circumstances, which do not apply here. 3. Request to the Higher Sports Council not to grant the necessary administrative authorization without such unanimous consent. Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to respecting the national and international rules that guarantee the fairness and proper functioning of official competitions, and will defend their compliance before all competent bodies. Conor Laird – GSFN
The Star
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Real Madrid oppose LaLiga Miami match and urge UEFA, FIFA to block it
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Girona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - February 10, 2024 General view inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo MADRID (Reuters) -Real Madrid on Tuesday denounced plans to stage a LaLiga match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami, warning the proposal could undermine football's competitive balance and vowing to petition global governing bodies to block the move. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday approved the December 20 fixture at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which could become the first LaLiga match held abroad and the first European league fixture staged in the United States. "Real Madrid wish to express to its members, supporters and football fans in general its firm rejection of the proposal," the club said in a statement, revealing they have already urged FIFA, UEFA and Spain's Higher Sports Council (CSD) to intervene. The club accused the RFEF of making its decision "without informing or consulting the clubs participating in the competition" and argued that staging the match in Miami "violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity" in home-and-away league formats. Real further stated that the move would "alter the competitive balance" and grant "an unfair sporting advantage" to the clubs involved. The club also warned that approving the proposal could compromise sporting integrity and "set an unacceptable precedent," insisting any change of this nature should require "the express and unanimous agreement of all the clubs participating in the competition". The plan still requires approval from UEFA, US Soccer, CONCACAF and ultimately FIFA before LaLiga President Javier Tebas can realise his long-held ambition of taking Spanish football to the U.S. (Reporting by Fernando KallasEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Real Madrid oppose LaLiga Miami match and urge UEFA, FIFA to block it
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox MADRID - Real Madrid on Tuesday denounced plans to stage a LaLiga match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami, warning the proposal could undermine football's competitive balance and vowing to petition global governing bodies to block the move. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday approved the December 20 fixture at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which could become the first LaLiga match held abroad and the first European league fixture staged in the United States. "Real Madrid wish to express to its members, supporters and football fans in general its firm rejection of the proposal," the club said in a statement, revealing they have already urged FIFA, UEFA and Spain's Higher Sports Council (CSD) to intervene. The club accused the RFEF of making its decision "without informing or consulting the clubs participating in the competition" and argued that staging the match in Miami "violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity" in home-and-away league formats. Real further stated that the move would "alter the competitive balance" and grant "an unfair sporting advantage" to the clubs involved. The club also warned that approving the proposal could compromise sporting integrity and "set an unacceptable precedent," insisting any change of this nature should require "the express and unanimous agreement of all the clubs participating in the competition". The plan still requires approval from UEFA, US Soccer, CONCACAF and ultimately FIFA before LaLiga President Javier Tebas can realise his long-held ambition of taking Spanish football to the U.S. REUTERS
