August 28 – Italy’s Serie A says it is “astonished” by EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef’s comments that playing regular-season European football games outside Europe would be a ‘betrayal’ of the sport’s identity and community roots.
Micallef, who vowed to oppose any plans for matches to be played outside the continent, also warned that such controversial plans could become “the first big stress test for governance since the Super League. Moving competitions abroad isn’t innovation, it’s betrayal.”
Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A already have plans in place to stage matches abroad.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has approved plans for La Liga’s matchday 17, Barcelona vs Villarreal, to be played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on December 20.
And Italy’s federation has agreed to Serie A’s request to stage matchday 24, AC Milan vs Como in Perth, Australia, in February 2026, as AC Milan’s San Siro stadium will be unavailable.
Both games need to be sanctioned by UEFA and FIFA, as well as the national federations in the US and Australia.
But on social media platform X, Micallef said: “I’m deeply disappointed by proposals to stage domestic league matches outside Europe. Today I spoke with Ronan Evain of Football Supporters Europe to express my solidarity and make clear that I will stand with football fans, especially in Spain and Italy.
“To me it’s clear: European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe.”
Serie A responded immediately with a statement saying it was “astonished by the words of European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, whose comments seem to underestimate the complexity and strategic value of initiatives aimed at promoting Italian football on a global scale, along the lines of what leagues such as the NBA and NFL are already doing by playing matches in Europe.
“To speak of betrayal for a single match, out of a total of 380 Serie A matches, seems an excessive position, which risks fuelling a populist debate, far from a constructive and modern vision of sport.
“Taking a match abroad does not mean exporting the championship, but rather introducing new audiences to the excellence of Italian football, strengthening the competitiveness of the system and generating resources that have a positive impact on the entire movement, including at youth and amateur level, in return for a small sacrifice required of the Milan and Como fans, who will nevertheless benefit in terms of increased visibility and popularity worldwide.
“Serie A will continue to work to combine local roots with international openness, fully aware of its role in promoting Italian football.”
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