In an embarrassing climbdown, the game in Miami is off with the league having alienated the players and even Villarreal, the club that was on its side
If there is a moment that defined La Liga’s fourth failed attempt to play in Miami, an image to explain why everything went wrong, it may have been the moment it was all over. On Tuesday night, Spanish television broadcast reaction to the news from the Estadio de la Ceràmica, live and unfiltered.
Cameras caught someone else who felt dismissed and disrespected, treated as if they didn’t count. This time it was someone who was supposed to be on the league’s side, but now appeared as a portrait of poor planning and poorer communication, a lack of consideration that pushed the project to collapse.
The man in shot was Fernando Roig Negueroles, the chief executive of Villarreal, due to be the “home” team at the Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December. Sitting in the stands, a cigarette in his mouth, he stared at his phone where the statement had just dropped. It was official, public now: La Liga would not be going to Miami.
Roig got up, paced about, threw looks of disbelief at some of those around him and accusing glances at the screen. For a moment it appeared he might throw his phone; instead he spoke into it angrily. All dramatic shrugs, he gesticulated as he left a voice message, then hung up with a furious thud of his thumb.
