Sevilla could pull out of a friendly match with Arsenal in Stockholm on 4 August due to a complicated summer fixture schedule that includes a dispute with Barcelona and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) about the timing and format of the Spanish Supercopa.
The Gunners had originally intended to play Chelsea in the Swedish capital’s Friends Arena as part of the International Champions Cup but that fixture was brought forward by three days and moved to Dublin due to the Blues’ Community Shield commitments.
Sevilla, who are also participating in the pre-season tournament, were announced as an alternative. What we at Arseblog News didn’t realise at the time is that their participation came with strings attached, namely that they wouldn’t play if the first-leg of the Spanish Supercopa fell on 5 August.
The Supercopa is traditionally played out over two legs between the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey. In this instance, because Barcelona won both, Sevilla qualified as the losing finalists of the latter.
As things stand nobody is quite sure when that game, or games, will take place.
For some reason (we’re guessing money is involved) the RFEF suggested staging the Supercopa as a one-off game in the Moroccan city of Tangiers to avoid clashes with Sevilla’s qualifying games for the Uefa Europa League which are due to take place at the beginning and in the middle of August.
Having already agreed to include one-leg of the competition in their season ticket package, Sevilla have rejected that proposal.
To whomever it concerns, let it be clear: Sevilla Fútbol Club has not altered its stance – the Spanish Supercup is a two-legged fixture as is set out in the calendar. That is how the Club desires it to be played. It has accepted no other proposal.
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) July 8, 2018
Barcelona are reportedly happy to go along with a Morocco-based game or to play the Supercopa later in August, in part because they have an International Champions Cup fixture with AC Milan at the Levi’s Stadium in California on 5 August.
Sports Pro Media reports that Spain’s council for sport will now have to make a decision as to whether they stick with the Supercopa’s current format or revamp it for this year. Marca say a decision could be made later this afternoon.
It’s all a bit of a mess. If we had to guess, Arsenal will probably find another team to play in Sweden no matter what.
actually thought it had something to do with the reported interest in Nzonzi and Banega ???
I was so glad the match got moved to Dublin as I live in Belfast and was going to bring my 7 year old. Get the Arsenal in his blood early because his mom side would try to brainwash him into one of the 2 Manchester sides!
Then I went and checked the prices…
Its a fucking friendly man! Crazy prices!
Cancel it, give the players more pre-season training to get them playing as a team.
More videos absolutely needed as well. No smiling, all sweat, heavy breathing, practicing high press.
Stuff trophies are made of.
The match tests are made to judge themselves during and after the preparation in order to correct the eventual problems and to keep all teammate the involved with rhythm.
After come trophies.
While I understand your point, I hope this isn’t the case. I live in Stockholm and have already bought tickets to the game!
If only the FA would start calling the Community Shield the “English Super Cup,” we’d have a couple more major trophies.