La Liga Miami Match Canceled After Protests

La Liga’s planned Dec. 20 regular-season match between Barcelona and Villarreal at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was called off amid mounting opposition and uncertainty, a decision La Liga president Javier Tebas called a missed chance to globalize Spanish football. Players, fan groups, the Spanish federation and the players’ association protested (including standing still at kickoffs), and Spain’s sports council urged more dialogue, transparency and regulation before future overseas fixtures. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois publicly attacked Tebas and La Liga, calling the suppression of those protests manipulation and arguing that moving fixtures abroad distorts the home-and-away fairness of the competition. Media reports say La Liga asked broadcasters not to show the silent protests and that feeds were altered, intensifying accusations of censorship, while promoter Relevent said there was insufficient time to stage the event responsibly. UEFA had previously approved the proposal pending FIFA sign-off, underscoring unresolved tensions over commercialization and governance in European football.