Uefa's executive committee is meeting in Tirana this week to discuss proposals from La Liga and Serie A to move domestic league matches to foreign venues. La Liga wants Villarreal's home game against Barcelona on December 22 to be played in Miami, while Serie A seeks to move AC Milan's match against Como to Perth. Both proposals require approval from several football governing bodies, but Thursday's meeting is seen as a critical hurdle.
If approved, this would set a precedent for playing competitive domestic fixtures overseas, a move long championed by La Liga president Javier Tebas. Previous attempts in 2018 and 2019 were blocked by Fifa and the Spanish federation, but a legal settlement with promoter Relevent Sports has cleared the way. Uefa has also signed a six-year commercial deal with Relevent, signalling alignment with the plan.
The proposals have sparked criticism from fans, particularly at Villarreal, a club deeply rooted in its small town of Vila-real (population 50,000). The club president has offered to fly season-ticket holders to Miami for free, but many fans face logistical and financial barriers. Critics argue that such moves prioritise global commercial expansion over local traditions and community bonds.
Serie A has described the relocation of Milan's match as a 'small sacrifice' for fans in return for increased international visibility. A test event in Perth last May, a friendly between Milan and Roma, drew a sell-out crowd of 56,000 and was accompanied by a pop-up Italian village and spritz bar. Proponents see this as evidence of demand abroad, while detractors view it as a 'flat-pack travelling circus' that commodifies club heritage.
The outcome of Thursday's meeting could open the door to more overseas fixtures, fundamentally altering the geography of domestic football. For Villarreal, a club that has risen from local roots to European success, the move symbolises a broader shift away from community-based sport towards a fungible, globalised product.
