UEFA has announced that it has “reluctantly” granted approval for a La Liga and a Serie A fixture to be played outside Europe in the United States and Australia respectively despite widespread opposition from fans.
“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and should not be viewed as setting a precedent,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.
The ruling follows La Liga’s agreement to relocate the late-December clash between Barcelona and Villarreal to Miami, Florida. Similarly, Serie A approved moving the AC Milan vs. Como fixture to Perth, Australia, on February 8, to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro Stadium.
The decisions have sparked outrage among European supporters’ groups, who denounced the moves as “absurd, unaffordable, and environmentally irresponsible.”
In its official communication, UEFA emphasized that it “reiterates its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home countries,” adding that the executive committee’s approval was granted “on an exceptional basis” and should not be interpreted as a shift in policy.
