La Liga’s Ambitious Plans for Global Expansion
LONDON (AP) — In a bold move to globalize its brand, La Liga, the prestigious Spanish soccer league, is planning to revisit the idea of hosting a regular-season match in the United States. Javier Tebas, the league’s president, stated during a press briefing on Thursday that he remains committed to making this vision a reality, following last year’s failed attempt to play a match in Miami designed to introduce Spanish football to an American audience.
Previous Attempt and Opposition
Previously, a match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal was scheduled for December 20 at the Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins. This would have set a precedent as the first major European league to conduct a regular-season game stateside. However, plans were thwarted by widespread opposition from various stakeholders, including clubs, players, and fans, who expressed concerns over competitive integrity—arguing that playing a match abroad could disrupt fairness within the league.
“I’m uncertain about the timing, but we will make another push for it,” Tebas remarked while attending the Financial Times Business of Football Summit. “It’s merely one match out of a total of 380 in a season, and I don’t believe it would cause harm to the league.”
Inspiration from American Sports
Tebas envisions a model similar to the NFL, which successfully conducts games in various international cities like London and Dublin. He noted that the NBA also capitalizes on overseas games to expand its fanbase.
Tebas highlighted the significant benefits that major European leagues have realized through international audience engagement and lucrative broadcasting agreements worth billions globally. Furthermore, he stated that hosting a game abroad symbolizes respect and is an avenue for promotion, akin to practices seen in American sports over the years.
“We now celebrate Halloween, something unheard of two decades ago, and welcome NFL and NBA matches. In 50 years, will we find that our stadiums are empty while those for the NBA and NFL are packed? American leagues draw fans not only for entertainment but also to secure TV agreements and engage youth in their sports.”
Challenges and Future Prospects
Previously, an attempt to hold a Spanish league game in the U.S. in 2019 was also stifled when FIFA clarified its stance, emphasizing that official league matches should occur only within the boundaries of the respective member associations. Consequently, Barcelona withdrew its participation from the event.
Manchester City Investigation
In other news, Tebas also commented on the ongoing saga surrounding Manchester City, which faces charges of violating the Premier League’s financial regulations. Although the club was accused of over 100 breaches in February 2023, an independent commission investigation won’t yield a verdict until late 2024, amid constant denials from Manchester City regarding the allegations.
“Such a situation fosters uncertainty, which ultimately tarnishes the reputation of the involved institutions,” he remarked.
___James Robson is at soccer:
