Aleksander Ceferin
August 2025

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has criticised La Liga’s plan to stage Barcelona vs Villarreal in Miami but admitted UEFA cannot block it after approval by Spain’s federation and Italian authorities, with Serie A also exploring overseas matches. For UEFA, exporting league fixtures undermines football traditions and supporters’ access, yet La Liga and Serie A view U.S. and Australian ventures as crucial for revenue, broadcasting, and fan growth. The clash highlights tensions between cultural identity and global commercial expansion.