Real Madrid 'Utterly Oppose' La Liga Matches in USA in Letter to Federation

Real Madrid have sent a letter to the Spanish football federation stating they "utterly oppose" plans to play La Liga matches in the United States in the latest setback in the league's attempts to have Girona and Barcelona face off in Miami this season. 

Cadena Ser (h/t AS) published the letter, which highlighted the fact even four US-based supporter clubs have changed their opinion on the fixtures and now agree that La Liga contests should stay in Spain.

The letter was signed by general manager Jose Angel Sanchez Perianez, and it said matches in the U.S. would jeopardise the "integrity and fairness of the competition."

It also lamented the lack of communication from La Liga, an issue many parties have brought up.

La Liga President Javier Tebas launched his ambitious plan to expand into the American market earlier this year but has faced plenty of obstructions since. As reported by ESPN's Adriana Garcia, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was one of many opposed to the idea, and the reaction from the players was similar:

Per Goal's Ryan Benson, Girona accepted the proposal to sacrifice one of their home matches this season, but La Liga writer Colin Millar provided more context as to why they may have done so:

As reported by Alfredo Matilla of AS, Tebas will need official documentation from a number of organisations including the Spanish Higher Sports Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UEFA, CONCACAF and the United States Soccer Federation.

Convincing all of those seems unlikely, and Real Madrid's public opposition to his plans will only make things more difficult.

The match is supposed to take place late January, and with relatively little time left to get a deal in place, Tebas is taking drastic measures, per sportswriter Robbie Dunne:

Little progress appears to have been made in the past few weeks, but this letter is likely to liven up the discussions once again.