Serie A CEO Rejects Rabiot’s Concerns Over Milan’s Match In Perth

‎Serie A Chief Executive, Luigi De Siervo, has urged footballers to respect both their earnings and their employers, responding to AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot’s criticism of the club’s planned trip to Australia.

‎The Italian league is facing a scheduling challenge with the San Siro unavailable in February due to the Winter Olympics.

‎Rather than see it as a setback, Serie A has framed the situation as a chance to promote Italian football globally. As a result, Milan’s league match against Como will be played in Perth.

‎Rabiot, currently on international duty with France, called the decision crazy when he spoke to French newspaper Le Figaro on Tuesday.

‎”I was surprised when I learned that AC Milan will be playing a Serie A match against Como … in Australia,” Rabiot said.

‎”It’s completely crazy. But these are financial agreements to give visibility to the league, things that are beyond us.

‎”There’s a lot of talk about schedules and player health, but this all seems truly absurd. It’s crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt, as always.”

‎De Siervo, attending a Serie A assembly meeting in Rome, was asked about Rabiot’s remarks that these decisions are taken without the input of players.

‎”He’s right, but Rabiot forgets, like all footballers who earn millions of euros, that they are paid to carry out an activity, to play football,” De Siervo told reporters.

‎”He should have respect for the money he earns, complying with the wishes of his employer, Milan, who accepted and pushed for this match to be played abroad.”

‎UEFA, despite its opposition to domestic league games being staged overseas, reluctantly approved the match on Monday alongside LaLiga’s planned fixture in Miami.

‎The governing body said FIFA’s regulatory framework, which is still under review, lacks the clarity and detail needed to block such events.

‎De Siervo, however, argued that football must take inspiration from other sports if it wants to sustain global growth.

‎”Last year’s Tour de France started from Florence, the Giro d’Italia often begins abroad. This is done to strengthen the product, not weaken it,” he said of the cycling events.

‎”The NFL and NBA have been playing away from the US for years, with the concept of being a global product.

‎”UEFA said it was against it, but accepted the exceptional nature of this event. We believe, however, that this can be a model that the world of football, with precise rules, must follow if it is not to lose out to other sports.”