AC Milan vs. Como Match in Australia Canceled Due to Sanctions
An Italian league match in Australia between AC Milan and Como has been canceled due to sanctions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), according to Serie A.
The match had been tentatively approved by UEFA in October, alongside a La Liga fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona, which was also set to take place in Miami but has since been called off.
Scheduled for February in Perth, Western Australia, the match would have marked the first European league game held abroad.
Serie A's president, Ezio Simonelli, stated that financial risks and last-minute complications rendered it "impossible" for the match to proceed. He noted, "In light of the unacceptable demands received from the AFC in recent hours towards the Australian Federation and subsequently the Government of Western Australia and the Serie A Football League, it has become unfeasible to hold the Milan-Como match in Perth on February 8."
Initially, the plans encountered challenges due to conditions set by the AFC, including the requirement to use Asian match officials; however, Simonelli had expressed optimism earlier this week that the game would still take place.
Como had previously advocated for playing matches abroad, arguing that such sacrifices are essential for the "survival" of Serie A in the face of the Premier League's financial dominance.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) criticized the initiative, declaring that "one domestic match abroad is one too many." Meanwhile, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters stated in August that there are currently no plans to host an English top-flight match overseas.