Real Madrid's 3 Demands Regarding the Plan to Play the Villarreal vs. Barcelona Match Outside of Spain

Muhe - Wednesday, 13 August 2025 | 04:00 PM (WIB)

Real Madrid's 3 Demands Regarding the Plan to Play the Villarreal vs. Barcelona Match Outside of Spain

90 MIN FOOTBALL - Plans have emerged for the Villarreal CF vs. Barcelona match in Week 17 of the 2025/2026 La Liga season to be held outside of Spain. Reportedly, the match will be held in Miami, United States.
Regarding the plan, La Liga giants Real Madrid issued a firm statement rejecting the proposal.
"Real Madrid CF wishes to reiterate to its members, supporters, and football fans in general that it firmly rejects the proposal to play the National First Division League Championship match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona in Week 17 outside of Spain," read an official statement on their official website.
Real Madrid stated that the plan was made without information or consultation with other La Liga clubs. Real Madrid also believes it violates the fundamental principle of territorial reciprocity.
"The two-legged league competition (one match at home and one away) disrupts competitive balance and provides an undue sporting advantage to the participating clubs," the statement continued.

Real Madrid's official statement continues

Competition integrity requires that all matches be played under equal conditions for all teams. Unilateral changes to these rules would undermine the equality of competition, compromise the legitimacy of results, and create an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on non-sporting interests, clearly impacting sporting integrity and risking tainting the competition. If this proposal were implemented, the consequences would be so serious that it would constitute a turning point in world football.
English: Any such modification must, in any case, obtain the express and unanimous approval of all participating clubs, and strictly respect the national and international rules governing the organization of official competitions.
To uphold this principle, Real Madrid has taken three specific actions:
1. Requesting FIFA, as the guarantor of international football rules, not to authorize the holding of matches without the prior approval of all participating clubs.2. Requests UEFA, as guarantor of the integrity of European competitions and regulatory consistency with FIFA, to urge the RFEF to withdraw or reject the request, reaffirming the criteria established in 2018 that prevent official matches in domestic competitions from being played outside national territory, except in exceptional and justified circumstances, which are not included here.3. Requests the Consejo Superior de Deportes (Spanish High Sports Council) not to grant the necessary administrative authorization without such unanimous consent.
Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to respecting national and international regulations that guarantee the fairness and proper functioning of official competitions, and will defend its compliance with these regulations before all competent bodies.***