Frenkie de Jong Explodes with Fury Over Barcelona's Miami Showdown
Barcelona's central midfielder Frenkie de Jong has openly criticized the club's La Liga encounter with Villarreal scheduled for December being relocated to Miami, declaring it's not "appropriate for the athletes."
This marks the inaugural occasion that a fixture from Spain's premier division will take place abroad, realizing long-held ambitions to bring a competitive match to global audiences and enhance the league's profile in international markets.
Proposals to host last season's Barcelona-Atlético Madrid clash in Miami were ultimately scrapped, but following UEFA's hesitant consent, La Liga chief Javier Tebas has solidified arrangements for this December. The encounter will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Dec.20.
However, despite representing an extraordinary chance for both La Liga and American supporters, the decision has faced widespread condemnation, with Barcelona's De Jong among those voicing their disapproval.
"I'm not pleased about us playing there and I disagree with this decision," the experienced Barcelona midfielder expressed to journalists during international service with the Netherlands.
"It's unfair to the competition. We're now facing an away fixture on neutral territory. I dislike it and believe it's wrong for the athletes. The teams will receive compensation for this, but I oppose playing a league match in Miami. I understand why other clubs disagree as well."
UEFA President Concerned by Competitive Distortion
This was originally meant to be Villarreal's home fixture, and UEFA chief Aleksander Čeferin also emphasized the "disruptive" effect of relocating it on fair competition.
"League fixtures should take place on domestic soil," Čeferin stated, despite UEFA's general endorsement.
"Any alternative would alienate dedicated match-attending supporters and could introduce disruptive factors in competitions. Our consultation verified the extent of these worries. I want to acknowledge the 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible participation on such a delicate matter."
He noted that UEFA won't make it routine to allow matches overseas: "While it's unfortunate to permit these two fixtures to proceed, this ruling is extraordinary and shouldn't be viewed as establishing a precedent. Our dedication is evident: to safeguard the integrity of domestic leagues and ensure football stays rooted in its home setting."
Tebas Defends Miami Game
Tebas defended the choice based on it comprising merely 0.26% of the entire season, asserting it doesn't detract from La Liga's "dedication" to local Spanish supporters.
"This represents one match out of the 380 that constitute the season," he emphasized. "La Liga serves millions of supporters worldwide, including many who follow their clubs devotedly and merit the opportunity to witness them live at least once.
"This fixture aims to bring our football nearer to that international fanbase without reducing our dedication to those who enjoy it regularly in venues throughout Spain."
The NFL, NBA and MLB have all conducted multiple regular season matches internationally for years, enhancing their worldwide appeal and global reach.