Relevent Sports, LaLiga’s strategic partner and the main promoter of the “Miami Plan,” has officially withdrawn from organizing the Villarreal–FC Barcelona match, initially scheduled for December 20 in Miami. The decision follows weeks of growing controversy, open opposition from players, and a formal complaint submitted by Real Madrid to Spain’s Higher Sports Council (CSD).

Player protest and turmoil inside LaLiga

In recent weeks, tension between players and the league’s leadership reached a boiling point. Since August, team captains had demanded detailed information about the project, but their questions remained unanswered. Although UEFA had approved the match at Hard Rock Stadium, Javier Tebas’s absence from the players’ meeting led to an open confrontation.

As a form of protest, players decided to pause play for 15 seconds at the start of every league match — a symbolic gesture denouncing the lack of transparency and dialogue. LaLiga deemed the act illegal, and some broadcasters attempted to hide it during live coverage, further fueling frustration among players. Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal publicly criticized the league’s leadership, accusing it of violating the rules and manipulating the competition.

The fourth failed “Miami Plan”

News of the cancellation reached Villarreal CF during their Champions League fixture, which the club described as a sign of disrespect. FC Barcelona, meanwhile, released a statement expressing disappointment at the lost opportunity for expansion in the United States but said it “respects and accepts” the decision.

This marks the fourth failed attempt to stage a LaLiga fixture abroad. The Girona–Barcelona match in 2018/19 was canceled, followed by Villarreal–Atlético a year later, and last season’s proposed Barcelona–Atlético fixture never materialized. Each case faced resistance from players, the federation, and sections of the clubs involved.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

LaLiga laments a lost opportunity

In an extensive statement, LaLiga expressed regret over Relevent Sports’ decision, describing it as a lost historic opportunity for the global expansion of Spanish football. League officials argued that hosting a game abroad could have strengthened LaLiga’s global image, increased revenues, and improved competitiveness against the Premier League and UEFA competitions. In an increasingly competitive global market, such initiatives are essential to sustain growth and stability. Abandoning them limits clubs’ potential to invest and compete at the highest level, the statement read.

In contrast, the Players’ Union (AFE) celebrated the outcome as a victory for player unity and transparency. The union had long criticized the lack of consultation with players, claiming the project was advanced without their approval. For AFE, the cancellation represents a symbolic triumph against LaLiga’s opacity and pressure.

Tebas blames Real Madrid

Following the announcement, LaLiga president Javier Tebas issued a passionate statement sharply criticizing European and Spanish institutions, accusing them of provincial thinking and obstructing football’s progress. His comments were interpreted as a veiled attack on Real Madrid and UEFA, both of which had opposed the plan. Canceling the match is a step backward for Spanish football. Those who talk about tradition and integrity have long undermined them. LaLiga will continue to fight for a modern, open, forward-looking game — one built on ambition, not fear, Tebas wrote on X.

Although the project has been scrapped for now, Tebas confirmed that LaLiga remains committed to expanding globally and will explore new avenues for international growth. For the fourth time, however, the Miami Plan remains nothing more than Javier Tebas’s unfulfilled dream.

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