La Liga President: Girona-Barcelona Match on US Soil '90 Per Cent' Certain

La Liga President Javier Tebas has said the proposed league match between Girona and Barcelona in Miami is "90 per cent" certain to go ahead. 

Tebas made an appearance on radio station Onda Cero to discuss the controversial fixture (h/t Reuters, via AS):

"Girona-Barcelona will 90 per cent be played in the United States, but the agreement is not about just one game, it's about a process which is much bigger.

"We held a bidding process and various companies got involved. There's no obligation for teams to play one game a year in the United States, only the clubs who volunteer to go will go. But this is much more than a game, it's about strategy and sponsorship."

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

As Goal's Ryan Benson reported, Girona have accepted the proposal to sacrifice one of their home matches, seeing it as an opportunity for growth:

"The club has accepted the proposal understanding that it is a great possibility of expansion and growth, not only for Girona, but also for our city and our territory.

"A little over three years ago, the club fought against disappearing entirely and now our goal is to consolidate ourselves in LaLiga.

"This action would be another step within the idea of competing in the elite of football after the effort we have all made in recent years and that has led us to LaLiga."

The proposal is highly controversial, however. Per Benson, the players have made it clear they are not in favour of playing an official match abroad, and the union has even threatened a strike.

According to La Liga writer Colin Millar, there appears to be a general lack of communication between the parties:

Millar also noted it's no coincidence Girona accepted the proposal, as the club's unique ownership will prioritise the PR opportunities far more than the bulk of Spain's teams:

Tebas has prioritised the economic growth of the league during his tenure, but some of his decisions have made him unpopular with many. Even Royal Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales is not a fan:

There are plenty of obstacles to overcome for Tebas, with football's governing bodies keeping a close eye on proceedings.