La Liga US fixture: are Barcelona and Lionel Messi Miami-bound?

La Liga’s plan of hosting a Spanish top-flight fixture in the US has taken a step forward.

Barcelona, Girona and La Liga have announced that they’ve requested permission from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for a match to be played in Miami next year.

The matchday 21 fixture – a “home” clash for Girona against Barca – is scheduled to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 26 January.

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According to a statement issued by La Liga, the request was submitted to the RFEF last night and signed by FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, Girona FC president Delfi Geli and La Liga president Javier Tebas.

The statement said: “One of the elements of the request is the compensation offered to Girona season-ticket holders, who have this fixture included in their season ticket. Aficiones Unidas, an association of fan clubs, has welcomed this compensation package.

“The clubs and La Liga also explained that they will work hand in hand with the main Spanish government institutions, as well as other federations and sports entities, to promote Spanish football and its values as a vehicle for developing the ‘Brand Spain’ in North America.”

While La Liga and the two clubs are keen to see the match take place in Miami, some fans were unhappy at the prospect of a league game being played outside Spain.

One football fan on Twitter called it “a damned idea” while another said: “Horrible decision stop this nonsense.”