UEFA has given its approval for a La Liga and Serie A match to be played outside Europe amid strong protests from supporters’ groups, Afrosport reports.
This means Barcelona will face Villarreal in a La Liga match in Miami in December, which will be the first European league game played outside the continent.
Meanwhile, AC Milan will take on Como in a Serie A encounter in Perth, Australia, in February.
In a statement released on Monday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin admitted the “regrettable” move was controversial but described it as an “exceptional” case that should not be seen as setting a precedent.
“League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions,” said Ceferin.
“Our consultation confirmed the breadth of these concerns. I would like to thank the 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible engagement on such a sensitive issue.
“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.”
Fan groups across Spain and Italy had voiced fierce opposition, arguing that moving domestic league games abroad undermines loyal supporters and damages the integrity of national competitions.
UEFA added that they agreed to engage with the governing body before making any future requests to host league games overseas.
The approval follows official applications from the Spanish and Italian Football Federations to move the fixtures abroad. Last month, UEFA had delayed its decision after a consultation found little support for the idea.
