UEFA break silence on La Liga and Serie A plan to play games abroad

UEFA has postponed a decision on whether to approve European domestic league matches being staged abroad and has committed to consulting supporters before reaching a final verdict.

European football’s governing body’s executive committee examined requests for the Villarreal vs Barcelona La Liga clash to take place in Miami this December and for the AC Milan vs Como Serie A encounter to be held in Perth, Australia, next February, during its meeting in Tirana on Thursday.

Nevertheless, it stated it would “undertake a round of consultation with all stakeholders in European football – including fans”.

Supporters’ organisations have voiced fierce resistance to the proposals previously, viewing this as the most significant governance controversy in the sport since the European Super League’s launch in 2021. UEFA declared in a statement: “The committee acknowledged it as an important and growing issue but expressed the desire to ensure that it has the views of all stakeholders before coming to a final decision.

“There are many issues to resolve and as the European governing body, UEFA has a responsibility to take all such factors into account.”

Christian Pulisic of AC Milan is challenged by Gabriel Strefezza and Lucas Da Cunha of Como during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Football Supporters Europe stated it welcomed UEFA’s pledge to meaningful consultation “to ensure any decision is based on the best interests of the entire European football ecosystem”.

FSE continued: “Today’s announcement reflects UEFA’s dedication to preserving the integrity of European football.

“The specific mention for fans to be involved in this engagement demonstrates that UEFA has recognised the strong opposition expressed by millions of supporters across the continent, as well as those of the many other stakeholders who have spoken out against these plans.

“FSE would like to thank every supporters group across Europe who co-signed our statement opposing these proposals – your voice has made a real difference.

“Our position remains unchanged: European football belongs to our stadiums, our cities, our communities – one domestic match abroad is one too many.

“FSE remains committed to constructive dialogue with UEFA, European institutions, and other stakeholders to protect and strengthen the European Sport Model and to ensure a robust framework is in place to resist any attempts to take domestic league games abroad.”

Both La Liga and Serie A have previously emphasised the significance of hosting fixtures overseas to provide their competitions with enhanced worldwide visibility.