Why Como Believes Taking Serie A To Australia Could Save Italian Football

‎Como, the Italian club, issued a statement regarding their potential Serie A clash with Milan in Australia, arguing that scheduling games abroad is about the league’s “survival.”

‎UEFA has reluctantly approved Milan’s home league fixture to be played in Perth next February.

‎Additionally, Villarreal’s La Liga matchup with Barcelona is slated for December in Miami, Florida.

‎The idea of moving domestic matches abroad has faced sharp criticism, including from campaign group Football Supporters Europe.

‎In a club statement released Monday, Como said that “sometimes sacrifice is essential,” highlighting the growing financial gap between Serie A and the Premier League.

‎“We understand that this journey may demand sacrifices in convenience, comfort, and routine,” the statement read.

‎“Yet sometimes sacrifice is essential, not for individual benefit but for the greater good, for growth, and above all, for the survival of the league itself.”

‎Como also highlighted the vast financial gap between England and Italy, noting that the Premier League’s current four-year TV deals are worth over £12 billion.

‎In contrast, Serie A earns only about €900 million (£781 million) per year, totaling roughly £3.1 billion over the same period.

‎“We must ask ourselves honestly how we can retain our best players, build competitive teams and attract the world’s elite to Serie A if we do not adapt,” the statement continued.

‎“This is not a matter of greed. Most clubs in Italy are not profitable. It is about ensuring survival and building a future where Serie A remains competitive, respected, and globally admired.

‎“Our goal is clear. We want to restore Serie A to the glory it enjoyed in the 1990s, when Italian football was the most watched, most respected, and most loved league in the world. To achieve that, we must evolve, unite, and make Serie A the talk around the globe again.”

‎Como, who are managed by Cesc Fàbregas and currently sit eighth in Serie A, also revealed they would be inviting 50 fans to join them on the 8,500-mile journey to Australia.

‎“Together, we will show the world what Italian football truly represents: heritage, heart, and hope for the future,” the statement said.

‎UEFA claimed it had been given no option but to approve the staging of the two domestic league matches overseas, citing what it claimed was uncertainty around the regulatory framework.

‎Aleksander Ceferin, the UEFA president, has insisted their approval was “exceptional” and does not set a precedent. Uefa said its 55 national associations had “confirmed their commitment to engage with Uefa before submitting any future requests”.

‎Ceferin told the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Rome last week that moving the sport away from its local community roots risked “breaking” football.

‎The plan still requires final approval from FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino cautioned that playing domestic league games abroad poses a “big risk.”

‎FIFA is revising its rules on holding domestic league games in foreign venues and is seeking legal counsel on prohibiting them.

‎While the world football governing body would prefer to ban the practice, its first review of the related regulations in 11 years will be guided by legal opinions.