La Liga chief Javier Tebas hits back at FIFA concerns on US games

La Liga president Javier Tebas has hit back at Gianni Infantino after the FIFA chief expressed concerns on the league’s plans to play games abroad.

The Spanish league wants to play the scheduled match between Girona and Barcelona in late January in the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, while the two clubs have also given their approval.

La Liga needs to gain approval from FIFA, UEFA, CONCACAF and the United States FA, with FIFA indicating they had not yet been approached over the match.

“I think I would prefer to see a great MLS game in the U.S. rather than La Liga being in the U.S.,” read an Infantino statement provided by FIFA to ESPN earlier this week.

“Of course, I would rather his opinion agreed with what we are trying to do,” Tebas is cited as saying by Spanish press agency EFE.

“I believe his comments are not consistent or coherent with what FIFA has been doing and what is currently happening with Major League Soccer.

“This is not an idea about playing one match abroad then leaving for good, this is a long-term strategy and we want to build our brand here so football is widely known.”

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