BARCELONA, Dec 11 (Reuters): La Liga has pledged to persevere with a long-term strategy of taking games outside of Spain after immediate plans to play Barcelona's January match against Girona in Miami were derailed by the champions' decision to back out of the fixture.
Following a board meeting on Monday, Barcelona withdrew from the game "after seeing the lack of consensus surrounding the proposal", ending a protracted saga since La Liga applied to move the game from Catalonia to Florida in September.
The league's organising body accepted that the game, set to take place on Jan. 26, could not be played abroad but pledged to continue its legal battle with the Spanish football federation (RFEF), the most vocal opponent of the plan.
"We regret to disappoint our fans in the U.S. and will work to, in the shortest possible time, stage an official La Liga game in the U.S., just like the major American leagues stage games outside their borders," a La Liga statement said.
"La Liga will continue the planned action, so an official league game can be played outside of Spain. La Liga is convinced that the RFEF is not acting in accordance with the law."
The league also said Barca's withdrawal did not affect its 15-year agreement with entertainment firm Relevent to promote Spanish football in North America.
Last month, La Liga filed a lawsuit in a Spanish court against the federation, which turned down its application to have the game moved and whose president Luis Rubiales has loudly protested the league's plans.
La Liga to continue with plans to play matches in US despite Barca setback
FE Team | Published: December 12, 2018 00:14:36
La Liga to continue with plans to play matches in US despite Barca setback
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