Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga have hit back at a European Union commissioner who branded their plans to stage domestic matches outside as a “betrayal” of the fans.
Serie A is planning to stage a match between AC Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, next February, while La Liga hopes to move Villarreal’s game against Barcelona to Miami in December.
“I’m deeply disappointed by proposals to stage domestic league matches outside Europe,” Glenn Micallef, EU Sports Commissioner, wrote on social media on Wednesday.
“To me it’s clear: European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe. I believe that clubs owe most of their success to their loyal fans & local communities … moving competitions abroad isn’t innovation, it’s betrayal.”
In a statement, Serie A said it was “astonished” by Micallef’s remarks, adding he underestimated “the complexity and strategic value of initiatives aimed at promoting Italian football on a global scale”.
“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,” the statement continued.
