Uefa President Warns Against Overseas League Matches
Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin has expressed concerns that moving league games overseas could "break" football, emphasizing the importance of keeping the sport connected to its roots.
Ceferin's remarks come as two European league matches are set to be played abroad for the first time. La Liga rivals Villarreal and Barcelona are scheduled to compete in Miami this December, while AC Milan will face Como in Perth, Australia, in February.
Uefa has approved these games "reluctantly," and Ceferin reiterated his opposition during a recent address to club officials at the European Football Clubs' general assembly in Rome.
Adrien Rabiot, a midfielder for AC Milan, criticized the decision to hold the match in Perth, calling it "completely crazy" and "really absurd" in an interview with Le Figaro, as reported by The Athletic.
Ceferin remarked, "Football is not just about balance sheets. It’s not merely entertainment. It’s life in our communities, the streets, the clubs, and the fans that shape it. If we pull it too far away from those roots, we risk breaking it." He highlighted the unifying power of football, stating, "In uncertain times, football is our anchor and gives us common ground, a joy we can share. In good times and in bad, football is always there, reliable and enduring. When Europe faces significant political, economic, and social challenges, we need something that holds us together. Football has that power, and we must preserve it."
Uefa reported that it consulted with stakeholders and found a "widespread lack of support" for playing league matches abroad, reflecting concerns from fans, other leagues, clubs, players, and European institutions. However, it noted that Fifa's regulatory framework is "not clear and detailed enough" to prevent these plans, despite establishing a working group last year to examine the implications of hosting competitive domestic matches overseas.
Uefa Will Never Support a European Super League
Ceferin also reaffirmed that Uefa would never create or endorse an exclusive competition, reiterating its stance against the European Super League. In 2021, twelve of Europe’s leading clubs, including six from the Premier League, attempted to form such a league.
English clubs Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham were among the founding members, alongside AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona. Revamped plans were announced following a ruling from a top court that deemed it unlawful to prevent clubs from joining a breakaway league.
Ceferin stated, "Europe sets standards in world football, and for that reason, we see attacks from outside to reshape the game. Change is part of football’s story, but lasting value comes only from unity, balance, and the strength of everyone, not just a few. Uefa will never and would not organize a competition for 12 clubs only. Uefa wants inclusion; we want the dream to stay alive. We will ensure our club football is inclusive and that everyone has a chance to win the best competitions."