The Spanish League's plan to jump in front of the Premier League and play one of their games in the United States this season still has some way to go in winning over players, clubs and supporters.
News that La Liga has signed an agreement with sports and entertainment group Relevent to promote football in North America was announced last week. The suggestion that the deal includes plans to play a game abroad felt like a bold statement of intent from president Javier Tebas.
Relevent is behind the International Champions Cup, the world's largest summer club tournament, and its founder Stephen Ross is also the owner of Miami Dolphins. A La Liga match this season in Miami was implied if not written in stone in the announcement.
The Premier League has long held the desire to stage a 39th game of the season on foreign soil. Had La Liga jumped ahead in terms of planning? The reaction suggests there is still some way to go before the idea can be executed.
The biggest hurdle will be gaining permission from Spain's football association, who say they were not consulted ahead of the announcement last week.
They will also need permission from Spain's Foreign Office and its Ministry for Sport. And they need to win over the supporters of the clubs involved in the game.
There was a furious reaction to the decision to play the Spanish Super Cup in Morocco two weeks ago and a league match would be even more problematic as supporters' season tickets would need to be reimbursed.
Diario AS have calculated that were Real Madrid to be the club playing the US fixture that could end up costing the league around €3million, on the basis of around 62,000 season-ticket holders, paying €1,000 for their season ticket at 52 euros per game and all wanting their money back.
Real Madrid appear cold on the idea and say they have not been consulted. Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is very much in favour of pushing the club in the United States, and the Catalan derby between Barca and Girona in January has been put forward as a possible fixture.
But the game, a home match for Girona, is wedged between cup quarter-finals and would be difficult if both sides are still in the competition.
The players' union has also rejected the idea. 'Footballers are not bargaining chips that can be used to benefit third parties,' it said.
Long-haul flights in crucial weeks of the campaign will be rejected by players and coaches no matter how much presidents push.
The feeling in Spain is that the idea might appeal to smaller clubs desperate for a commercial fillip but a match between two of the competition's minnows would not make for a financial success.
The Spanish league is certainly taking the fight to win global fans to the Premier League but Tebas' ambitious plans has many bridges to cross before he gets it across the pond.
MadridMarz
0
Please what brand is barca pushing for? is it laliga brand or Barcelona brand? The statement did not say it favoured Barcelona but it said that Barcelona president favoured the idea which means he is in support of the idea. And remember that Tebas is not Barcelona's official he is the laliga president and also a big fan of real Madrid.
Yeah ok.....but as a laliga fan I'm very pissed off at this decision and Barca are favouring it....soo i don't like the idea of playing in North America
Futcdiluyz
0
I don't think it's a good idea to do so.
Huebdmu
0
It is an idea worth trying unfortunately consultations were not done so as to reach a consensus,what's in it for the two teams involved and how are the local fans going to be reimbursed especially this season? It makes sense for La liga to reward its foreign fans with one competitive march and not just go play lazy pre season matches whose composition is highly questionable.
Anisngum
0
That would be very funny.
BAPPSPAULO
3
la liga will be played in Spain alone
Omyomy
2
It will make the players and the teams confused
Gattusospenis
1
This is an absolutely horrible and stupid idea
k52
1
Stupids will always remain stupid. Whose f***ing ego they are going to satisfy?
Kambkpstyz
2
if the yanks want in on the greatest sport in the world they first have to start calling it by the proper name, football. I am aware that soccer is a British slang. The yanks need to come up with a new name for their game. It is NOT football.
AladeanMonreal
3
the only thing they should do is bring in more English commentators because the long flight is going to be a problem to our heros not to talk about champions league
wizbiklnry
0
This means Laliga is always favouring Barca ....as the headline stated Barca pushes to build brand
Please what brand is barca pushing for? is it laliga brand or Barcelona brand? The statement did not say it favoured Barcelona but it said that Barcelona president favoured the idea which means he is in support of the idea. And remember that Tebas is not Barcelona's official he is the laliga president and also a big fan of real Madrid.
ErvinJ
2
I live in New York City so this could be fun for me. But I think more important would be to have a better broadcast in the USA of la liga. Send commentators to the stadium. Let us feel the sound of the public. Rather than having the broadcasting staff in the USA like beIN sports does. This is why I like to watch the premier ligue more. NBC does a great job showing the matches. You feel like you are there. Love it 🤗
Barcelona-Arsenal
1
This means Laliga is always favouring Barca ....as the headline stated Barca pushes to build brand
thats like saying Lopetegui favours Asensio because he's trying to build a bigger nane for himself...... no connection between the two
zibuko
5
I don't like this one bit, why are they playing games in different countries? This is no champions league and even in the champions league one team is home and the other is away! What is really happening in Spain? This is making La Liga boring now!
anjit
0
This means Laliga is always favouring Barca ....as the headline stated Barca pushes to build brand
anyway it seems you are ronaldo's fan .he is gone now so just keep quiet ok
anjit
0
This means Laliga is always favouring Barca ....as the headline stated Barca pushes to build brand
say wahatever don't you know the president of laliga is always against barca . Didn't they made barca to play against palmas in closed doors instead of rescheduling
MadridMarz
2
This means Laliga is always favouring Barca ....as the headline stated Barca pushes to build brand