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The RFEF will block Girona vs Barcelona match in Miami with FIFA backing

  /  autty

After the public outcry surrounding the proposal to stage a LaLiga Santander fixture in the United States, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), backed by FIFA, have confirmed that they will block any move to bring the idea to fruition.

The Girona vs Barcelona match was set to take place in Miami on January 27 2019, but the RFEF  do not wish to see their competition taken outside the Spanish borders and, according to Cadena Cope's El Partidazo show, RFEF chief Luis Rubiales will send a letter to LaLiga president Javier Tebas to make their stance officially known on Friday.

The RFEF are believed to have said that there is a "zero percent chance that the Girona vs Barcelona match will take place in Miami".

In the letter, Spanish football's governing body will explain that neither UEFA, FIFA nor the Spanish government support the proposal and the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) are also against it.

The letter will also be sent to international football bodies to make them aware of the situation.

Tebas, who received the news on Thursday night, had his say on the the El Partidazo show.

"That isn't an argument: UEFA haven't announced their stance publicly, FIFA don't have legal authority and we are negotiating with the AFE," the LaLiga president said.

The Catalan derby between both sides would be the first domestic fixture to take place outside of Spain, an idea that the Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui is not particularly fond of.

"All teams should play at the same grounds," he said in a press conference last week.

Jordi Alba, a player who would be directly affected by the decision, has also had his say.

"It's a decision that the club has to make, but for now they haven't told us anything. At least, not to me," the Barcelona left back said.

Related: BarcelonaGirona