FSE Urges Serie A to Reconsider Perth Match Plans

Advocacy from Football Supporters Europe

The pressure group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has urged Italy’s Serie A to reconsider its intention to hold a regular season match between Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, early next year, following Spain’s La Liga setting a precedent by canceling a similar event.

In response to backlash from both players and fans in Spain, La Liga recently announced the cancellation of a scheduled regular season match between Villarreal and Barcelona in the United States.

FSE’s Statement

FSE expressed strong conviction in a statement on Wednesday:
“This marks a significant victory for European football and everyone who believes that the sport should thrive within its communities. Now, it’s time for Serie A to retract its plans too. Serie A must act responsibly amid increasing isolation… The sentiments of the players and fans in Italy are abundantly clear. Persisting with this misguided initiative would only harm the league’s integrity, Italian football, and the sport at large.”
“The sport has no business being 15,000 kilometers away from its origins.”

There was no immediate reply from Serie A regarding this matter outside regular business hours.

Upcoming Match Details

Milan has received conditional approval from UEFA to stage the February match at Perth Stadium, given that their home venue, San Siro, is unavailable for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. However, the match still requires authorization from Football Australia, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and FIFA.

While numerous European clubs are accustomed to playing pre-season friendlies across the globe, this matchup between Milan and Como would be the inaugural Serie A contest to occur outside Italy.

Player Reactions

Milan’s Adrien Rabiot labeled the proposal as “absurd” and “crazy,” although Serie A Chief Executive Luigi De Siervo dismissed these concerns, suggesting that players ought to appreciate the financial rewards and respect their clubs.

De Siervo emphasized, “The NFL and NBA have successfully engaged in international games for years, promoting a global brand. We insist that this could serve as a model for the football world, which must adhere to rigorous standards if it intends to remain competitive with other sports.”

Confidence from Western Australia Officials

Government representatives in Western Australia remain optimistic that Serie A will not yield to criticism.
“We have received supportive feedback from the Italian league recently, so we are very optimistic,” stated WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti in an interview.
“We are awaiting confirmation from the Asian Football Confederation. Essentially, I’m checking my phone every ten minutes, so we expect updates in the coming days.”