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AFE rejects Miami plan for Girona-Barca

The Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) has confirmed its formal opposition to LaLiga's plan to play Girona's home game against Barcelona in Miami.

Both clubs have agreed to the proposal, which comes as part of a deal with Relevant, the company behind pre-season tournament the International Champions Cup.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has asked for more documentation from LaLiga over the proposal, but the league's president Javier Tebas still believes the match will take place in Miami.

A statement read: "The AFE want to express the following after receiving a more detailed report on the game between Girona and Barcelona which LaLiga hopes to move to the United States in 2019:  

"1. We have informed LaLiga that said report does not specify the specific and necessary objective elements to be able to determine that the provisions of Articles 8, 9 and 37 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement will not be violated.

"2. The AFE reminds [LaLiga] that for the time being, there are no mandatory authorisations that allow for the game to be played in the United States.

"3. For that reason, considering the lack of information mentioned, the AFE has transmitted to LaLiga its lack of support for that decision."

RFEF leader Luis Rubiales opposes the Relevant deal, describing as an "invasion" of the United States, but Tebas has cited the precedent of this season's Supercopa de Espana between Barca and Sevilla being played in Morocco.