UEFA reluctantly clears Milan and Barcelona to play domestic league matches abroad
Soccer Football - Euro 2028 & Euro 2032 Hosts Announcement - Nyon, Switzerland - October 10, 2023 The UEFA logo is pictured at the headquarters ahead of the announcement REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
UEFA have reluctantly approved a Serie A and a LaLiga match to be played abroad, the European governing body confirmed on Monday.
The LaLiga fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal will be staged in Miami in late December, while AC Milan’s Serie A encounter with Como will be held in Perth, Australia, in early February.
Milan opted for a foreign location as their San Siro stadium will be unavailable as both the city and the stadium prepare to host the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 6.
Spain's LaLiga has been pursuing their transatlantic vision for almost a decade, emulating the strategy employed by the NFL and NBA to establish themselves in other markets.
UEFA said its Executive Committee had reluctantly approved the move as an exception, stressing that FIFA’s regulatory framework, still under review, lacks sufficient clarity and detail, and reiterating that it remains opposed in principle to such matches.
"League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions," UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.
"While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent.
"Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment."
Italy's Serie A welcomed UEFA's decision.
"For us, a contingency due to the unavailability of San Siro Stadium has turned into an opportunity to satisfy the many fans of Italian football, who will have the chance to watch the match live in Perth," Serie A League President Ezio Simonelli said.
"It’s also a chance for both teams and Italian football to increase international visibility and grow their fan base."
Simonelli said that he understood the challenges for supporters, with their teams now set to play almost 13,800 km (8574.92 miles) away from Milan and six hours ahead in time.
"I'm confident that Milan and Como supporters - who in any case would not have been able to attend the match at the Meazza (San Siro) will understand the sacrifice being asked of them on this occasion, which will ultimately bring significant benefits to their teams," he added.
