- Scheduled to be played February 8 at Optus Stadium
- Prominent supporters group want the game played in Italy
- WA government remains confident fixture will go ahead
A leading European fans’ group says Italy’s Serie A should follow the lead of the Spanish competition by cancelling the planned Italian league match scheduled to be played in Australia.
La Liga announced on Tuesday it had ditched hotly contested plans to stage the Villarreal versus Barcelona fixture in Miami in December – a decision which delighted many fans and players who have loudly protested against the move.
But while that match in the US is off, the Serie A are yet to comment about whether the planned fixture between AC Milan and Como, earmarked for Perth on February 8, will follow suit.
But welcoming the news from Spain, UEFA’s officially recognised fan liaison group, Football Supporters Europe (FSE), demanded on Wednesday that Italian football authorities reach the same outcome.
‘La Liga’s tired idea to export a game to Miami has once again collapsed: Villarreal vs FC Barcelona will be played where it belongs – in Villarreal,’ an FSE statement read.
‘Common sense has prevailed. This is a seismic victory for European football and everyone who believes the game belongs at the heart of our communities – now it’s time for Serie A to drop its plans too.
A leading European fans’ group says Italy’s Serie A should cancel the planned league match scheduled to be played in Australia in early 2026 (pictured, AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric)
Como are scheduled to play AC Milan in Perth next February – but the fixture has attracted plenty of criticism (pictured, Como head coach Cesc Fabregas)
‘Once again, European football stood united to protect the future of our game.
‘The collective opposition from supporters, players, UEFA, the European institutions and many other football stakeholders has been deafening and definitive: domestic league matches must not be exported abroad.
‘Serie A must do the right thing in the face of growing isolation and withdraw its proposal to move AC Milan vs Como 1907 to Australia. It’s not too late.
‘The position of players and supporters in Italy is crystal clear: doubling down on this failed idea would be an act of self-inflicted damage to the league’s reputation, to Italian football, and to the game as a whole.
‘If not, we urge the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which still needs to decide on this proposal, to respect the voice of fans, uphold the rules of the game and reject the proposal. The game has no place 15,000 kilometres away from its home….you can’t export passion.’
The game was shifted to Australia by Serie A organisers earlier this year as the San Siro will be used in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
Meanwhile, WA Deputy Premier and Sports Minister Rita Saffioti said Serie A representatives remain adamant the fixture will go ahead.
‘We’ve had some very supportive comments from the Italian league, so we’re very confident,’ she said.
FIFA and Football Australia will also need to sign off on the historic game.
WA Premier Roger Cook announced the deal earlier this month, heaping praise on Saffioti for helping secure the arrangement following a trip to Italy in August.
Serie A chief executive Luigi De Siervo has so far backed the decision, silencing a number of disgruntled players who have spoken out.
