Fifa chief not keen on playing La Liga match in Miami
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has expressed concern about La Liga's proposal to stage a fixture between Girona and Barcelona in the United States.
The two clubs have approved a request submitted to the Spanish Football Federation for the match to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Jan 26. It was originally scheduled as a home game for Girona, at their Estadi Montilivi.
The idea has proven controversial. Girona would be surrendering the advantages of playing at their own home ground, which in theory could benefit Barcelona.
Infantino said yesterday: "I think I would prefer to see a great MLS game in the US rather than La Liga being in the US. In football, the general principle is that you play a 'home' match at 'home', and not in a foreign country."
La Liga president Javier Tebas responded on Twitter. He wrote: "I will remind the president of Fifa that in the MLS, three teams of Canada participate, and Toronto are the current champions, and also in Canada there is another professional league."
Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver all compete in the MLS but play home fixtures in their own cities, in Canada.
Infantino also confirmed the plan will need approval from the Spanish and US Football Federations, as well as Uefa and Concacaf, the governing bodies in charge of European and North American football, respectively.
La Liga is discussing playing one game per season in the US as part of a 15-year agreement with the media company Relevent.
Girona supporters have been offered a "compensation package", which is believed to include free flights to the US, as well as 5,000 tickets for the reverse fixture at the Nou Camp later this month.
The offer to play the game abroad has been accepted by Girona, who have described it as "a great opportunity to expand and grow, not only for the club but also for our city and our territory".
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said the game is still far away, but Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui is not in favour of the move, believing that it would undermine the equality of the league.- AFP
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