UEFA reluctantly approves Villarreal-Barca and Como-Milan matches

UEFA approved the request received from La Liga and Lega Serie A for play both matches abroad

European football's governing body reiterates its position that domestic league matches must be played in their respective countries, but has approved the request received from La Liga and Italy's request for the Milan-Como match in Perth.

UEFA on Monday approved Villarreal-FC Barcelona, on December 20, to be played in Miami. Despite European football's governing body's clear position that domestic league matches should be played in their respective countries, UEFA approved the match between the Yellow Submarine and Barcelona in the United States, following a round of consultations.

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Following its Executive Committee meeting held last month in Tirana, UEFA held further consultations with stakeholders to assess the scope of the issue, following requests received from the national football associations of Spain and Italy, which requested the Milan-Como match be played on February 6 in Perth. UEFA admits that its consultations confirmed a lack of widespread support for playing domestic league matches outside their countries, but that given that FIFA regulations—currently under review—are not sufficiently clear and detailed, the UEFA Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests submitted to it (Vilarreal-Barça in Miami and Milan-Como in Perth). "UEFA will actively contribute to the work being carried out by FIFA to ensure that future regulations uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close connection between clubs, their fans, and local communities."

At the same time, the same UEFA statement details that "all UEFA national associations confirmed their commitment to consult with UEFA before submitting any future requests. In doing so, they expressed their collective determination to safeguard the overall interests of European football."

UEFA President

Announcing the decision, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stated:

"League matches must be played at home; anything else would deprive loyal fans who attend matches of their rights and could introduce distorting elements into the competitions. Our consultation confirmed the scale of these concerns. I would like to thank all 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible engagement on such a sensitive issue."

"While it is regrettable to have to allow these two matches to go ahead, this decision is exceptional and should not be considered a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains rooted in its local environment."