Javier Tebas confirms Barcelona wanted to move Villarreal game
The La Liga match came just 24 hours after FIFA's The Best gala in Milan
Javier Tebas has confirmed that Barcelona asked to move Tuesday's game against Villarreal because of it proximity to FIFA's The Best gala on Monday.
Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong and Marc-Andre ter Stegen were all at the event in Milan less than 24 hours before the league game against Villarreal at Camp Nou.
Barça asked twice if the game could be moved to either Wednesday or Thursday but were met with a negative response from La Liga.
"Barcelona asked but we'd set the times 30 days ago," Tebas said at the World Football Summit. "It's difficult to change games in midweek. Changing one would mean changing up to 11 which are affected as a result. We knew The Best wasn't going to end too late."
Messi was named The Best men's player at the gala in Milan and Tebas was in agreement: "He's the best player in the world and we're lucky to have him. I can't imagine La Liga without Messi. I hope he ends his career here."
