Barca’s Miami U-turn highlights culture divide - Experts

BARCELONA’s decision to back out of next month’s La Liga match against Girona in Miami highlights the differences that epitomise the European and American models of sport, according to sports industry analysts.

The Spanish league applied in September to move the Jan 26 game to Florida from Catalonia but met opposition from various governing bodies who feel official matches must be held within the territory of the respective member association.

Spencer Harris, an assistant professor of sport management at University of Colorado- Colorado Springs, had a simple explanation for the protracted saga.

“In the US context, commercialisation is firmly understood and accepted whereas the same unadulterated tactics in Europe – whilst ( they) may be desired by some – are more commonly frowned upon,” Harris, who teaches a course cal led Managing Soccer: Global Local Perspectives, told Reuters.

While many of soccer’s glamour clubs have played lucrative preseason friendlies on US soil to build their brand, staging a competitive match abroad presents different challenges.

In the US context, commercialisation is firmly understood and accepted whereas the same unadulterated tactics in Europe – whilst (they) may be desired by some – are more commonly frowned upon. Spencer Harris, assistant professor of sport management at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs

La Liga, Spain’s top soccer division and home to some of the world’s best players, signed a 15 - year ag reement with entertainment company Relevent Sports in August to play one league match per campaign in the United States.

But the proposal was met with widespread criticism from players and clubs in Spain and also faces opposition from the Spanish football federation and the sport’s world and European governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA.

“F I FA a r e a l l a b o u t commercialisation of the game and all about growing wealth and remaining the dominant force in the global sports landscape,” said Harris.

“ButforFIFA,thisisaboutpolitics and about defending the territorial rights of the associations. Because if they don’t do that, chaos could ensue very quickly.”

One source c lose t o the negotiations said the match had been considered an excellent opportunity for Barcelona to expand their international brand while giving a boost to lesserknown Girona in the relatively untapped US soccer market.

A successful staging of the game is also a key initiative for La Liga president Javier Tebas, a vocal proponent of expanding the league’s reach into North America.

Despite the setback, the source said there is too much interest from US fans for the game not to happen eventually – likely next year – and noted that 50,000 people signed a petition three weeks ago saying they wanted the game in Miami.

Last month, La Liga filed a lawsuit against the Spanish soccer federation, which turned down its application to have the game moved and whose president has protested loudly about the idea. — Reuters