LaLiga set to open ticket pre-sales for Miami game but sanctioning delays could derail plan

October 13 – While UEFA said it “regrettably” sanctioned LaLiga’s moving of Villareal’s home game against Barcelona to Miami on December 20, other governing bodies still needed to agree the relocation aren’t moving as quickly.

With LaLiga advertising pre-sale access to tickets opening in eight days time on October 21, the organisers will likely be going to market with a match that is not fully greenlighted.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas brushed off the delays as an administrative process that needed rubber stamping, but his comments prompted Concacaf to issue a statement saying that they had received an application to play the game but that they would not simply greenlight the request by return, but would follow due process and “conduct a thorough review of the application”.

At the same time FIFA has a working group looking at the legalities of playing the game in the US, and there is reportedly some irritation that UEFA rushed to sanction the game but pointed the finger at UEFA who said the FIFA regulations lacked clarity and left them with little alternative.

The reality is that no stakeholder from governing bodies to fan groups wants the game to go ahead, seeing it as a dangerous precedent for the game and particularly in markets that are trying to grow their domestic leagues.

LaLiga and local organisers Relevent (ironically now UEFA’s partner selling Champions League rights) are nevertheless charging ahead.

Concacaf look to have put the brakes on Tebas and LaLiga’s triumphant conquest of Miami by saying they will review and have not given any timescale for that review.

“Concacaf has received an application from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to host a LaLiga match in Miami, FL,” said the Concacaf statement.

“Following due process, in accordance with the applicable regulations, Concacaf will conduct a thorough review of the application, including consulting key regional and global stakeholders.

“Only after this process has been completed will a decision on the application be rendered.”

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1760337276labto1760337276ofdlr1760337276owedi1760337276sni@n1760337276osloh1760337276cin.l1760337276uap1760337276