La Liga president Javier Tebas says that La Liga games in the USA will only benefit MLS.
Gab Marcotti details how playing in the United States can benefit all La Liga clubs, not just headline acts Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) notified La Liga on Monday that it does not approve of plans to stage Girona's home game against Barcelona in January in the United States.
La Liga planned to host a regular-season game overseas annually as part of a 15-year marketing agreement with Relevent Sports and decided to move the Catalan derby, set for Jan. 26, to suburban Miami.
The players' union has had reservations about the plan from the start, and after receiving a detailed report from La Liga, it said in a statement it believes the decision to move the game violates several clauses in the collective bargaining agreement, specifically with regards to the players' well-being.
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"The AFE reminds [La Liga] that for the time being, there are no mandatory authorisations that allow for the game to be played in the United States," it said. "Therefore, considering the lack of information mentioned, AFE has transmitted to La Liga its lack of support for that decision."
The union's decision comes three days after the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) indicated that it also does not intend to support La Liga's plans.
La Liga president Javier Tebas told ESPN FC on Friday that there was still a "90 percent chance" the game would be moved to Hard Rock Stadium.
In addition to the RFEF and AFE, the league would also need the support of Spain's sports council, UEFA, CONCACAF and U.S. Soccer in order to move the game from Girona's Estadi Montilivi.
Source: espn.co.uk