Xabi Alonso has reacted to the prospect of a potential LaLiga game in Miami and backed Mallorca’s boss over their controversial defeat to Barcelona.
Real Madrid issued a strong rejection of the plans for a match abroad last week, arguing that all matches across a season should be “held under the same conditions for all teams”.
The club warned that the consequences of the idea succeeding “would be so serious that they would mean a before and after for the world of football”.
“I completely agree with the club’s statement,” said new Madrid manager Alonso. “If the rules are changed, it must be done unanimously by all participants. That’s not the case now.”
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Villarreal vs Barcelona: LaLiga match in US?
Villarreal and Barcelona will meet at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in December if UEFA and FIFA approve a request from the Spanish FA, which approved the potential history-making game earlier this month.
The contest had been scheduled for the matchweek of December 21 at Villarreal but is on the brink of becoming the first European top-flight league fixture to take place in the US.
LaLiga has long advanced plans to play a game overseas, including one between Barca and Girona in January 2019, when the idea was scrapped because the RFEF and players’ union (AFE) opposed it.
Discussing Madrid’s response with Radio Nacional (via Sport), league president Javier Tebas dismissed the suggestion that a game in the US would compromise the competition.
“The match in Miami doesn’t manipulate anything,” said Tebas.
Madrid manager Alonso talks referees
Madrid host Osasuna on Tuesday in their first LaLiga match under Alonso, who left Leverkusen to replace Carlo Ancelotti after the end of a rare season without a major trophy for Los Blancos in 2024/25.
The game comes three days after reigning champions Barcelona started their season with a 3-0 win at Mallorca, whose manager, Jagoba Arrasate, criticised the decisions to send off home players Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi during the first half.
Barcelona were 2-0 ahead at the time, and Arrasate was also unhappy that Ferran Torres scored their second goal when referee Munuera Montero allowed play to go on despite Antonio Raillo suffering a head injury.
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“Last week, [officials] explained to us all that if there’s a blow to the head, the game is stopped,” Arrasate claimed. “The fourth official in front of me told [Montero] to stop because it’s a blow to the head.
“He puts the whistle to his mouth. We all thought he’d blown it and, to everyone’s amazement, he gives a goal. I still don’t understand.
“I thank him for coming [to speak to me]. He gave me an explanation – he told me [Raillo] wasn’t dizzy. When he falls, you don’t know if he was dizzy or not.”
Alonso said it was “not his place to comment”. “I did hear what Arrasate said and he explained it very well,” he added.
“We’re starting the season and we’ll see how things go. Hopefully, we won’t have to talk about the referees.”
How to watch Madrid vs Osasuna: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 2 and streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.
A Premier Sports subscription costs £120 a year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.
