UEFA Gives Conditional Approval for Matches Abroad Amid Fan Backlash

UEFA’s Announcement

On Monday, UEFA expressed its hesitance in permitting a LaLiga match in the United States and a Serie A match in Australia, acknowledging the protests from fans regarding these decisions.

Ceferin’s Statement

“Though it’s unfortunate to allow these two matches to proceed, this is a unique situation and should not be considered a precedent,” stated UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

Details of the Matches

UEFA’s decision follows LaLiga’s agreement to relocate a match between reigning champions Barcelona and Villarreal, originally set for late December, to Miami, Florida.

Similarly, Serie A plans to host a match between AC Milan and Como on February 8th in Perth, Australia, to prevent overlap with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at Milan’s renowned San Siro stadium.

Fan Reactions

This decision has drawn ire from supporters across Europe, who have labeled the actions as “ridiculous, unaffordable, and environmentally irresponsible.”

UEFA’s Justification

In its announcement, UEFA clarified that it has consistently opposed domestic league games being staged outside their respective countries. Nevertheless, in light of the significant disapproval expressed by fans, leagues, clubs, players, and other European organizations, UEFA noted that it found no definitive guidelines within FIFA’s regulations that would permit it to block these initiatives.

“The UEFA Executive Committee has reluctantly resolved to approve these two requests on an exceptional basis,” the governing body of European football stated.