Reluctant approval given by UEFA for games to be played abroad as La Liga and Serie A games set to be played overseas.
Uefa gives ‘reluctant’ approval for domestic games to be played abroad this season.
In a potentially explosive step, Uefa has allowed La Liga and Serie A to play each other overseas this winter. This means that European league matches will be played on different continents for the first time.
With the governing body’s assent, Barcelona will play Villarreal in Miami this December, defying decades of continental precedent, subject to the formality of FIFA approval. Milan has also been given permission to play Como in Perth, Australia, in February. However, Uefa says that its approval won’t trigger a wave of similar moves because it has been constrained by football regulations.
In a statement Uefa said it had “reiterated its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country”. It continued: “However, given that the relevant Fifa regulatory framework – currently under review – is not clear and detailed enough, the Uefa Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it.”
The Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, sought to allay concerns that the dam has been burst by a move that could change the face of football. “League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions,” he said. “Our consultation confirmed the breadth of these concerns.
“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment.”