Chaos At Catalonia! Barcelona Confirms Japan Friendly Again After Resolving Contract Dispute

Last Updated:July 25, 2025, 17:16 IST

Barcelona will proceed with their preseason match against Vissel Kobe in Japan after resolving a dispute with the promoter. They will also continue their tour in South Korea.

Lamine Yamal for Barcelona (AP)

Barcelona will go ahead with their preseason match in Japan, just days after announcing its cancellation due to a contractual disagreement with the event promoter.

The Spanish champions confirmed on Friday that the dispute has been resolved and the team is now traveling to Japan to face Vissel Kobe on Sunday.

Dispute Resolved, Match Back On

According to the club, “all the issues that two days prior obliged Barcelona to cancel its participation" in the friendly have now been settled. Barcelona did not disclose the identity of the promoter involved or provide further details about the nature of the disagreement.

Following their game in Japan, Barcelona remains scheduled to continue their Asian tour with matches in South Korea. The team is set to face FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC on August 4.

Initial Cancellation Due to Contract Breach

Earlier in the week, Barcelona abruptly announced the cancellation of the Vissel Kobe match, citing serious contractual violations by the Japanese event promoter.

In a strongly worded statement, the club said: “Barcelona announces that it has been obliged to suspend its participation in the game scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promoter."

The club added: “Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact it will have on the many, many Barça fans in Japan."

The sudden cancellation had cast doubt over the club’s broader Asia tour, including the upcoming fixtures in South Korea. However, Seoul-based promoter D-Drive emphasized that the issues originated solely with the Japanese organizers, distancing themselves from the dispute.

Vissel Kobe, who were set to host the Catalan giants and previously boasted Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta in their ranks, also responded to the confusion with a public apology.

“We sincerely apologise for any concern this may cause to the many fans and stakeholders who were looking forward to this match," the club said.

With the situation now resolved, Barcelona’s preseason plans appear to be back on track. For the Culers, it’s been a rollercoaster of a day.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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