La Liga players are against US-based fixture, says Barcelona star Sergio Busquets

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets argues that the Spanish Association of Footballers (AFE) are united in their disapproval over plans to play La Liga games in the United States.

Players from all 20 La Liga squads gathered at the AFE to demonstrate their disapproval at the plans announced last week.

Clubs were not briefed on the development by La Liga officials ahead of its announcement, and that, along with later kick-offs taking place after midnight, has led to growing calls for the plans to be scrapped.

Busquets claimed that all the players were united on this issue in a statement released by the AFE on Wednesday.

“All of the players are united, the union is strong and as our president has explained, we all think the same on this issue,” Busquets said in the statement (via Football Espana).

“Together we are stronger and taking this stance ensures we are standing up for what we believe is in the best interest of football.”

Not everyone in La Liga agrees with the Barcelona midfielder though – Real Valladolid president Carlos Suarez said the move will help La Liga close the commercial gap with the Premier League.

“I think it’s good to play games in the United States. In terms of the process we are having to expand and cut down the gap on the Premier League, which is still ahead of us, it’s good,” Suarez said (via Football Espana).

“I think provided everything is coordinated well, it could be a very good thing.

Playing domestic league games abroad is not a new concept and teams from other sports – most notably the National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) – in the United States have already agreed lucrative deals to play games overseas.

In 2015 the NFL agreed a 10-year deal to host at least two games at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium every year. It remains to be seen if the AFE’s protest will be effective.

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