Tebas, Villarreal, AFE... Reactions clash after cancellation of match in Miami

Published New:22/10/2025 - 18:59h

Updated New:22/10/2025 - 19:00h

The cancellation of Villarreal-Barça in Miami continues to generate discussion in Spanish football. On Wednesday, Villarreal lashed out at LaLiga, blaming the employers' association for the event's failure

This Wednesday, Villarreal issued an extensive statement in which it points to LaLiga as responsible for the cancellation of the match corresponding to matchday 17, against FC Barcelona, which was to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

The 'Yellow Submarine' stated that it was considering withdrawing from the initiative due to the lack of confirmation of the match schedule and logistical details related to ticket sales and the transfer of its fans and members to US soil.

Furthermore, the club assures that it would not receive any economic benefit beyond the compensation intended for season ticket holders who could not travel to Miami. In that regard, the Villarreal board "regrets that LaLiga, as the organizer, has not better led the management of the event".

The employers' association first informed the Castellón club and Barça of the match's cancellation. Ideally, a joint statement should have been issued, but the competition ultimately moved forward on Tuesday night, while Marcelino's team was playing in the Champions League against Manchester City. A decision that Villarreal considers disrespectful.

Javier Tebas regrets "missing an opportunity" for the development of LaLiga

Prior to the statement issued by the 'Yellow Submarine', Javier Tebas spoke out regarding the cancellation of the match, pointing to Real Madrid as primarily responsible. The 'Casa Blanca', from the outset, claimed that the initiative "adulterated the competition" by moving a match that was supposed to be played at the Estadio de la Cerámica to a neutral venue.

"They appeal to the 'integrity of the competition' from those who have spent years questioning that same integrity, pressuring referees, rulers, constructing distorted narratives or using political and media pressure as a sporting tool," the president of LaLiga wrote on his 'X' account.

Likewise, Tebas assures that he will continue working to make a project a reality that he has been working on since 2018. "Spanish football deserves to look to the future with ambition, not with fear. We will continue trying. This time, we were very close."

The AFE and the European Commission celebrate the cancellation of Villarreal-Barça in Miami

For its part, the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE) also issued a statement assuring that LaLiga's "continuous contradictions" regarding the planning of the Villarreal-Barça match in Miami were the main cause of its cancellation.

The organization insists that the initiative alters the competition, in addition to "directly affecting" the labor rights of Spanish players. In that sense, the AFE asks the employers' association to "respect and address the demands and requirements" of the union in order to, in the future, make joint decisions for the benefit of Spanish football.

The European Commission did the same. Commissioner Glenn Micallef wrote on his 'X' account that the cancellation of the League match in Miami is "a victory for the fans, players and traditions that make European football special. This is a firm affirmation of the European sports model and the values it represents."

In this regard, Tebas responded: "The real way to protect football traditions is to defend competitive balance at home, not to fear its global projection." Beyond the exchange of reactions, the truth is that the match of matchday 17 will finally be played at the Estadio de la Cerámica, its natural home.