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Real Madrid have released a statement opposing a proposal for Barcelona’s LaLiga fixture against Villarreal to be played outside of Spain.
The club said the plan – put forward without prior consultation with other teams- breaks the fundamental structure of Spain’s top division, in which every side plays one home and one away game against each opponent.
Madrid argue that moving the fixture abroad would give the clubs involved an “undue sporting advantage” and undermine the integrity of the competition.
“This decision… alters the competitive balance and grants an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs,” the statement read.
“Unilaterally modifying this regime violates equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results, and sets an unacceptable precedent.”
The Spanish champions insist that all matches must be played under the same conditions for every team, warning that such a move would “mark a turning point for the world of football” if allowed to go ahead.
This is not the first time La Liga has explored taking competitive matches abroad. In 2018, a plan to stage a Girona vs Barcelona fixture in Miami collapsed following opposition from players, clubs, and governing bodies.
FIFA and UEFA have since maintained that domestic league matches should remain within the country of origin, except in rare and justified circumstances.
The latest proposal has again sparked debate, with critics arguing that such arrangements prioritise commercial gains over sporting fairness.
Supporters of the move say it could expand LaLiga’s global reach and commercial value, following similar experiments in the NFL and NBA.
Real Madrid confirmed they have already taken action on three fronts:
- FIFA – asking the world governing body not to approve the match without unanimous agreement from all La Liga clubs.
- UEFA – urging European football’s governing body to pressure the Spanish FA (RFEF) to block the request, reaffirming the 2018 precedent.
- Higher Sports Council – requesting that no administrative approval be granted unless all clubs consent.
The statement concludes with the club reaffirming its “commitment to respecting the national and international rules that guarantee fairness” and vowing to defend them “before all competent bodies.”
If approved, the Barcelona vs Villarreal fixture would mark the first competitive LaLiga match to be played abroad, a move likely to face more fierce challenges in the weeks ahead.
