Barcelona v Atletico USA Game Plans Halted

Madrid Court Injunction

A Spanish court has halted plans to play a La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the United States, after seeking an injunction at the request of the Spanish football federation (RFEF).

The highly-anticipated match was due to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on January 26, as part of a 15-year deal signed in 2018 to play one La Liga match per season in the US.

However, the RFEF argued that the match would damage the integrity of the competition and set a precedent for other clubs to play matches outside of Spain.

RFEF's Key Points

The RFEF's main arguments against the match were:

• It would disrupt the league calendar and give Barcelona and Atletico an unfair advantage.
• It would set a precedent for other clubs to play matches outside of Spain, leading to a fragmented competition.
• It would damage the atmosphere and tradition of La Liga.

The court agreed with the RFEF's arguments and granted the injunction, preventing the match from taking place in the US.

Barcelona and Atletico's Argument

Barcelona and Atletico argued that the match would help to promote La Liga globally and grow the sport in the United States.

They also said that the match would not damage the integrity of the competition, as it would be played under the same rules and regulations as other La Liga matches.

However, the court was not persuaded by these arguments and ruled in favor of the RFEF.

Next Steps

It is unclear at this stage what will happen next.

The RFEF has said that it is willing to work with Barcelona and Atletico to find a solution that satisfies all parties.

However, it is clear that the court's decision is a major setback for La Liga's plans to expand into the United States.