Glenn Micallef vs Serie A, Liga: 'European football must stay in Europe'
Commissioner opposes plans to play regular-season matches outside Europe
Glenn Micallef has vowed to back football fans in their battle to stop European football teams from playing competitive matches outside the continent.
Micallef, who serves as European Commissioner for Youth and Sports, said playing regular-season football matches outside of Europe would be a “betrayal” of fans.
“European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe,” Micallef said.
“I believe that clubs owe most of their success to their loyal fans & local communities. This is the first big stress test for governance since the Super League. Strong, community-based clubs are the heart of the European Sport Model. Moving competitions abroad isn’t innovation, it’s betrayal,” he said.
Micallef’s strong statement comes just as two of Europe’s leading footballing leagues are poised to host their first-ever games on foreign soil.
Italy’s Seria A wants to stage a game between AC Milan and Como early next year in Australia, and has received the backing of the country’s football federation to do so.
In Spain, La Liga has approved plans to play a Barcelona vs Villareal game in Miami this December.
The two leagues argue that hosting games overseas is key to building brand recognition and loyalty among a new contingent of fans in foreign markets. But fans’ groups say the shift will destroy the generations-long relationship between clubs and their communities.
While both the Spanish and Italian football federations have previously hosted domestic cup finals overseas, this is the first time they intend to organise regular season matches abroad.
Their plans mirror the trajectory of US sporting leagues such as the NFL and NBA, which have for years held matches abroad.
It remains unclear whether UEFA, the European football governing body, will approve Spain and Italy’s plans. The overseas games cannot proceed without its go-ahead.
Micallef made it clear he opposed the plans following a meeting with the executive director of Fans Europe, a football supporters association that has been vocal in its opposition to the plan.
Fans Europe accuses clubs of prioritising short-term financial profit over the good of the game.