The Spanish football Federation has called for the immediate resignation of La Liga president Javier Tebas after a Madrid court ordered Villarreal to play their league match against Atletico Madrid in Spain.
Villarreal were set to take their home match to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 6 as part of La Liga’s 15-year deal with media company Relevent, which will see one Spanish top-flight game a season in the United States.
However, a judge ruled that La Liga is not a separate entity to the Spanish football Federation (RFEF) and cannot grant “the precautionary measure” to host top-flight matches outside of the country ahead of a crucial court case in February 2020.
The match will now be played at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica.
Barcelona pulled the plug on their scheduled match against Girona in Miami last season, with the court making a final ruling on whether La Liga are allowed to sanction matches outside of Spain.
In a statement on the RFEF’s official website, it suggested that the governing body had lost patience with Tebas after the La Liga president filed several separate lawsuits, which have all been ruled in its favour, “generating economic damages” against the federation.
The statement continued: “The request to the member clubs of La Liga to start a dialogue with the federation is reiterated and the immediate dismissal of the La Liga president or his immediate resignation.
“Likewise, La Liga is urged to postpone actions contrary to the RFEF, giving way to a new stage of collaboration with the new representatives.”
Copy provided by Press Association Sport
