In a landmark, albeit controversial, move, UEFA has "reluctantly" approved requests from La Liga and Serie A to each host a domestic league match overseas. This decision paves the way for Barcelona and Villarreal to clash in Miami, Florida, in December, and for AC Milan and Como to face off in Perth, Australia, in February.
The decision comes after the Italian and Spanish football federations formally applied for permission to stage the matches abroad. While UEFA has granted permission for the games to be played outside of their domestic countries, the governing body has also revealed that they didn't want to and the decision was a regrettable one.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has been forthright in his opposition to the idea, stating that "League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions". He added that the decision was an exceptional one and should not be seen as a precedent.
UEFA's hand was forced due to a lack of clarity in FIFA's current regulatory framework, which is still under review. The organization reiterated its "clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country". However, it felt it had no option but to approve these two requests due to a lack of a "clear and detailed" framework.
The decision has sparked considerable debate and opposition, particularly from fan groups. Football Supporters Europe (FSE) issued a statement lamenting the decision and calling for firm rules to protect domestic competition. They argue that these moves undermine the history and long-term success of the leagues while inflicting lasting harm on European football. Critics also argue that commercial interests are taking precedence over football's roots. Concerns have also been raised that it is a lack of respect for the local fans.
La Liga has been actively pursuing the possibility of playing a match in the United States for several years, with previous attempts to stage a Barcelona game in Miami in 2018 falling through. Serie A has also been keen to tap into international markets, with the proposed match in Perth marking the first time a Serie A game would be played outside of Italy. These leagues see the staging of these matches overseas as crucial to growing their competitions' commercial appeal in new countries.
Real Madrid has voiced strong opposition to La Liga's plans, citing concerns over competitive balance. Some believe that these matches risk undermining their own history and long-term success while inflicting long-lasting harm to football in Europe.
Despite the controversy, the wheels are in motion for these historic fixtures. Barcelona is slated to play Villarreal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Meanwhile, AC Milan is set to host Como in Perth, Australia, with the Italian Football Federation already granting permission for the match to take place. The Milan-Como encounter has been relocated to Australia for February 8 to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony at Milan's San Siro stadium.
UEFA has stated it will now "actively contribute" to the ongoing work led by FIFA "to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close bond between clubs, their supporters, and local communities". National member associations have committed to engaging with UEFA on any future requests.
