MADRID: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed doubts about La Liga’s plan to host Girona’s home game against Barcelona in the United States.

The two clubs have each approved a request submitted to the Spanish Football Federation for the match to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on January 26. It was originally scheduled as a home game for Girona, at their Estadi Montilivi.

The idea has proven controversial. Girona would be surrendering the advantages of playing at their own home ground, which in theory could benefit Barcelona.

“I think I would prefer to see a great MLS game in the US rather than La Liga being in the US.,” Infantino said in a statement provided by FIFA to ESPN on Monday. “In football, the general principle is that you play a ‘home’ match at ‘home’, and not in a foreign country.”

La Liga have asked the Spanish federation to approve the game being held overseas, while US Soccer, FIFA, UEFA and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, must also agree for plans to go ahead.

FIFA told ESPN it had not yet been officially asked to give its consent for the game to be held in the US.

“FIFA should also express a view on the matter, not least since it would have implications for football at a global level as well,” Infantino added.

La Liga president Javier Tebas responded on Twitter to Infantino’s disapproving comments.

“I will remind the president of FIFA that in the MLS three teams from Canada play and Toronto FC are the current champions, and in Canada there is a professional league,” wrote Tebas.

Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver all compete in the MLS but play home fixtures in their own cities, in Canada.

La Liga is discussing playing one game per season in the US as part of a 15-year agreement with the media company Relevent.

La Liga has said the match is part of a long-term project, “targeted at promoting football in the United States and Canada”.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018