UEFA has revealed that they have granted permission for La Liga and Serie to stage matches overseas, but does so 'regrettably' according to an official statement from president Aleksander Čeferin. There has been rumours of major football matches being played outside of their domestic countries in an effort to grow the game for a while now, but it's finally coming into fruition. The La Liga match between Barcelona and Villarreal will be held in the United States, taking place in Miami, Florida. It won't be the only game played overseas, though, with UEFA also granting Serie A permission to hold AC Milan's contest with FC Como in Perth, Australia.
While they granted both leagues permission to hold their domestic games overseas, the governing body has also revealed that they didn't want to and the decision was a regrettable one, according to GiveMeSport's Ben Jacobs. UEFA released a statement addressing the situation and claimed that the move was one that they have taken 'reluctantly'.
"UEFA has today reiterated its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country. After the meeting of its Executive Committee in Tirana last month, UEFA undertook further consultations with stakeholders to assess the extent of the implications of the issue, following the applications it received from the Spanish and Italian national football associations. That consultation confirmed the widespread lack of support that had already been raised by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions around the concept of domestic league matches being relocated abroad.
"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. UEFA will actively contribute to the ongoing work led by FIFA to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close bond between clubs, their supporters and local communities."
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin then issued his own statement on the situation, revealing just how he feels about the matches being played outside of their domestic countries.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin Slammed the Decision
As shared by Jacobs, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin also released a statement addressing the decision to allow the matches to be played overseas and he didn't hold back. He admitted he wasn't happy about the call and described it as a 'regrettable' one. Čeferin also revealed that he didn't want the move to be seen as setting a precedent for the future. He said:
"League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions. 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."
More to follow...