Real Madrid C. F. would like to express to its members, supporters and football fans in general its strongest rejection of the proposal to play outside Spain the match corresponding to matchday 17 of the National First Division League Championship between Villarreal C. F. and F. C. Barcelona.
The measure, promoted without prior information or consultation with the clubs participating in that competition, violates the essential principle of territorial reciprocity that governs two-round league competitions (one game at home and the other at the opposing team's), altering the competitive balance and granting an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs.
The integrity of the competition requires that all matches be held under the same conditions for all teams. Unilaterally modifying this regime breaks the equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results and sets an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on interests other than strictly sporting, with a clear impact on sporting integrity and the risk of adulteration of the competition. If this proposal is carried out, its consequences would be so serious that they would mean a before and after for the world of football.
Any modification of this nature must, in any case, have the express and unanimous agreement of all the clubs participating in the competition, in addition to strictly respecting the national and international rules that regulate the organization of official competitions.
In defence of this principle, Real Madrid has already carried out three specific actions:
1. Request to FIFA, as guarantor of the international rules of football, not to authorise the holding of the match without the prior consent of all the clubs participating in the competition.
2. Request to UEFA, as guarantor of the integrity of European competitions and regulatory coherence with FIFA, to urge the RFEF to withdraw or deny the request, reaffirming the criterion established in 2018 that prevents official matches of domestic competitions from being played outside the national territory, except in duly justified exceptional circumstances, which do not concur here.
3. Request to the Higher Sports Council not to grant the necessary administrative authorisation without such unanimous consent.
Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to respect the national and international rules that guarantee the fairness and proper functioning of official competitions, and will defend their compliance before all competent bodies.