Plans for Serie A to stage a match between Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, are in serious doubt, according to sources. The fixture, scheduled for February, has faced intense criticism from fans and players, with Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot branding the idea 'crazy' and 'absurd'. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is under significant external pressure not to sanction the game, which would require approval from the AFC, Football Australia, and Fifa.
The controversy comes on the heels of the scrapped La Liga match in Miami, where promoter Relevent Sports pulled the plug amid opposition from Real Madrid and the Spanish footballers' union. Fifa President Gianni Infantino earlier described staging league games on other continents as a 'big risk'. Uefa had approved both switches on an exceptional basis, but senior figures now believe the Serie A move is also receding.
Como, however, defended the plan, stating that expanding Serie A's horizons was essential for the league's survival. But with Fifa working to redraft regulations to potentially ban such international matches outright, and the Premier League privately delighted by the delay, the prospect of domestic games abroad appears to be losing momentum. A decision on the Perth match is expected soon.
