Serie A match canceled due to unreasonable demands from AFC

The plan to hold a Serie A match in Australia has officially been canceled, ending the ambition to create a historic milestone for European football.

The match between AC Milan and Como, scheduled to take place in Perth on February 8, could not be held due to conditions and demands imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), resulting in financial risks and last-minute obstacles.

According to announcements from the Serie A organizers and the Western Australia government, the project was suspended after the AFC introduced additional demands deemed unacceptable. Serie A president Ezio Simonelli stated that the continuous emergence of new conditions from the AFC within a very short period made the plan impossible, despite nearly all preparations being completed.

If it had taken place, the Milan vs. Como game would have become the first-ever match in the history of a top European national league held outside its home territory. This was considered a groundbreaking move, reflecting Serie A's ambition to globalize amid increasing competition among major leagues for image and commercial value.

The initial reason for relocating the match stemmed from a special schedule in Italy. San Siro stadium was unavailable due to hosting the opening ceremony of the Milano–Cortina Winter Olympics. In this situation, the Italian Football Federation approved the proposal to move the match to Australia, while UEFA reluctantly agreed to the plan in October after several rounds of discussion.

However, things took a negative turn when the AFC imposed specific conditions, including the demand to have full authority to appoint the match referees. Although Serie A announced on December 18 that issues had been resolved, new demands that followed broke the entire previous agreement.

This incident highlights the delicate balance between commercial ambitions and the global football governance system. Organizing a European domestic match on Asian soil is not just a logistical challenge but also directly involves the authority, interests, and voices of regional football federations.

Notably, this is not the first time a major league has faced opposition when trying to hold matches abroad. Two months earlier, LaLiga also had to cancel plans to host the Barcelona vs. Villarreal match in Miami after strong criticism from experts and fans in Spain.