MADRID (AP) — Spanish league president Javier Tebas says “narrow-minded” views have cost Spanish soccer a great chance to project itself globally after the planned regular-season game between Barcelona and Villarreal in the United States was called off .
But a European fan group praised the decision, and the Spanish government called for more transparency in any future negotiations to try to play a league game abroad.
The Dec. 20 game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was called off on Tuesday amid growing opposition from players, fans and some clubs. The league 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 was “insufficient time to properly execute an even