'We're very bad and can't do anything right' - La Liga president blasts Real Madrid and says they have 'no say' in Barcelona vs Villarreal clash being held in Miami

The Villarreal vs Barcelona match has been given approval to go ahead in Miami and is scheduled for the weekend of December 20. While clubs like Barcelona and Villarreal support the move, Madrid have openly opposed it, arguing that domestic league games should remain in Spain to preserve tradition and fairness. La Liga president Tebas has countered the criticism, asserting that the clubs, players, and fans themselves want the game overseas, and insisting that taking the league game international will not compromise the competition.

In a similar move, it has also been confirmed that the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como on January 16 will be held in Perth, Australia citing more exposure and revenue for the Italian league games.

Tebas addressed the backlash firmly during a press conference. He argued that claims against the match were “demagogic,” emphasising that Villarreal fans, the clubs and players are all on board.

"A rather demagogic narrative is being constructed. It's Villarreal's own fans who want to come to Miami, it's the clubs that want to come to Miami, it's the players who want to come to Miami and we're talking about one match out of 380," he said. "It's about bringing our culture, our language, and our universities to the world. We don't put anything at risk."

Speaking on the Spanish players' union (AFE) and Madrid not being onboard with the idea, the president said: "See what they say now, but I know players from both teams want to come. Madrid has nothing to say on this issue. Not even the League itself. The regulations establish that the clubs request it from the Federation. La Liga gives its opinion and it is favourable.

"But with the current leaders [Madrid] it's impossible. It makes me sad because they don't like everything La Liga does. If it weren't Miami it would be something else. We're very bad and we don't do anything right. To have the squads we have, we have to remember that 42% of our audiovisual income comes from outside Spain. We have to respect those fans who pay to watch football. Because if not, we wouldn't have them."

Not everyone is happy with the Miami move with some citing it's only to benefit the league and the clubs for commercial purposes. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong criticised the long journey and said it is not fair for the competition. Former Barca defender and Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman added that Villarreal could lose home advantage, as more Barcelona fans might attend. Serie A’s Adrien Rabiot expressed similar frustration over Milan’s upcoming match in Australia, citing travel strain and packed schedules. Furthermore, with the amount of games increasing and the World Cup also on the horizon, these factors further causes unnecessary stress to the players and the managers alike.

La Liga aims to continue internationalising its brand while balancing competition integrity and player welfare. Compensation measures for season-ticket holders, fan engagement initiatives in Miami, and UEFA’s conditional approval signal cautious expansion. Tebas remains confident that global exposure benefits Spanish football’s long-term growth. Whether more matches abroad will follow remains a question, but La Liga is set on establishing a stronger presence in international markets. However, with no specific laws on taking games abroad, this can open up a whole different aspect of the case.