La Liga's chief, Tebas, was a youth member of Fuerza Nueva, Spain's defunct version of the British National Party, and has taken a hardline stance against Catalan independence since coming into office in 2013; for example, he refused Barcelona's request to postpone its league match against Las Palmas on the day of the October 2017 referendum violence.
"Playing in Miami, giving away 40, 000 Spanish flags for free to people who go to the stadium. You wouldn't see more than two or three Spanish flags in a regular Barca game at the Camp Nou, but you will see a lot of Esteladas [Catalan flags]. In Girona's stadium, it is the same—it is almost impossible to see a Spanish flag. Javier Tebas is really clever in simply erasing that match for us and instead trying to play that match in Miami with the national anthems of Spain and the United States beforehand.
"Girona is a city where [exiled Catalan leader] Carles Puigdemont was mayor. Girona is one of the strongholds of Catalan independence. Its population is about 80 percent in favour of independence. "Last season, the Girona vs. Barcelona match was the last game before October 1. It was a highly political game. Barca-Girona fans were united. We organised before the match about the demonstrations we were going to do. I think Javier Tebas doesn't want to see another occasion like it—that political game in Girona where Barca fans and Girona fans are united for independence.
Sevilla vs Girona H2H - Livescores.biz Sevilla vs Girona H2H. « Back | Yesterday | Today | Live | My games | Finished | Not
On September 6, he announced that no Catalan symbolism would be allowed in the Hard Rock Stadium on the day of the proposed match, that the Spanish national anthem would be played before kick-off and that 40, 000 Spanish flags would be handed out to fans in their seats, which has irked fans from both Catalan clubs. "It is a really political move for Javier Tebas to choose Girona against Barca for this tie, " says Ernest Pujadas, a member of Almogavers, one of Barcelona's most iconic supporters' clubs.
Last Thursday, Girona released a statement saying it was working on a proposal with La Liga for the match. As the "home" team for the fixture, Girona's fans stand to lose the most. From B/R's interviews with the presidents of several of their supporters' clubs, the majority are upset by the decision to lose out on such an alluring tie. "As a fan and a member of Girona, I would like the match to be played in our stadium, Montilivi, " says Joaquim Alegret, president of the Federation of the Supporters' Clubs of Girona. "In general, members think this match shouldn't be played in the United States.
It's nothing to do with the United States. If it were going to be played in Norway, it would be the same reaction—it's a different country. We just want to play the game in our stadium. "Barca is well known everywhere with supporters' clubs all around the world, but we are a small club that is playing in the premier division for only its second season. We are still trying to consolidate our position, so it's very important for us—this match.
Sevilla FC vs Girona FC Odds & Live Scores - January 14, 2023 See betting odds, player props, and live scores for the Sevilla FC vs Girona FC LALIGA game on January 14,
.png)