MADRID: The proposed Spanish league between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami has been cancelled by its promoter after fierce criticism in Spain.

The fixture, scheduled for the Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, was set to be the first LaLiga game held outside Spain and the first European league match staged abroad.

However a statement from LaLiga said: “Following discussions with the promoter of the LaLiga official match in Miami, the latter has announced its decision to cancel the event due to the uncertainty generated in Spain in recent weeks.

“LaLiga deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the internationalisation of Spanish football, cannot go ahead.

“The staging of an official match outside our borders would have been a decisive step in the global expansion of our competition.”

Although European soccer’s governing body UEFA had approved the plan, it was still pending ultimate approval from FIFA. Real Madrid filed two complaints to Spain’s Sports Ministry accusing LaLiga and the Spanish federation (RFEF) of making the decision without consulting clubs participating in the competition.

They argued that staging the match in Miami violated the principle of territorial reciprocity in home-and-away league formats.

LaLiga players staged silent protests over the weekend by standing motionless at kickoffs, though these demonstrations were not shown in official television broadcasts, which displayed banners reading “Commitment to peace”.

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