Uefa 'reluctantly' approves games played abroad

[davieG]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqlzwelw349o

Tom Mallows

BBC Sport journalist

Published

1 hour ago

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin says the "regrettable" decision to allow two European league matches to be played abroad is "exceptional" and insists it "will not set a precedent".

La Liga clubs Villarreal and Barcelona are now set to face each other in Miami in December in what would be the first European league fixture to be played abroad.

Then in February, AC Milan's Italian Serie A match against Como will be played in Perth, Australia.

Uefa, European football's governing body, has stressed its "clear opposition" to the plans, but "reluctantly" approved them because there is no legal framework to stop it.

"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."

 

 

 

Fans' group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) says the decision to play the two games abroad could inflict "long-lasting harm" on the sport, and wants tougher rules to prevent it happening again in the future.

"FSE will continue to stand firmly with fans in Spain and Italy in resisting these damaging proposals," it said.

"Together with our members in these countries, we are looking into every possible option to counter these plans.

"By forcing through these matches, La Liga and Serie A risk undermining their own history and long-term success while inflicting long-lasting harm to football in Europe - and beyond.

"Now is the time for a solid regulatory framework that protects domestic competition."

Uefa says it consulted stakeholders and found "widespread lack of support" for league matches to be played abroad, echoing concerns raised by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions.

But it said world governing body Fifa's regulatory framework is "not clear and detailed enough" for it to block the plans.

Fifa set up a working group last year to look at the impact of playing competitive domestic matches overseas.

Last year, La Liga said it wanted to hold Barcelona v Atletico Madrid in Miami before dropping the idea because of time constraints.

In 2019, Barcelona also planned to stage a league match against Girona in Miami, but the idea was scrapped after opposition from Spain's football association and its players' union.

Other one-off matches, such as the Italian Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup, have been held abroad in recent years.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in August there are no plans to play an English top-flight match abroad.

The idea of the Premier League playing an extra round outside England - the so-called '39th game' - was raised in 2008 but shelved after criticism from fans and media.

[Corky]

What were the "exceptional" reasons?

 

This is the start. Sad day.

[Bert]

The beginning of the end. 

[Craig]

19 minutes ago, Corky said:

What were the "exceptional" reasons?

 

This is the start. Sad day.

They appear to be that they have no power to stop it  

 

No doubt certain Championship owners, and many PL owners will be all over this. 

[purpleronnie]

No-ones surprised with league games going abroad.  I am a little surprised Australia was chosen, but I guess theres a huge italian immigrant population there and they'd fill any stadium with huge crowds.  Just thought the US and Saudi would be the first countries to get games.

 

But like I've said before this is the future of not just football but all sports with every major sporting league have a liquid fixture list with games being played in various countries throughout the season.

 

I don't think any young fan will be against it, probably all for it.  The more traditional fan won't like it but the clubs won't care about them, havent for 30 years.

 

Funny how the american fans were criticised for not making more of a stink when NFL matches were proposed abroad but I do't think they'll be that much opposition over here.

[BKLFox]

FIFA no better have you seen the price of a cup final ticket next year 😳 Football is no longer a working man’s game centred around fans

[Guest worth_the_wait]

...  the "regrettable" decision to allow two European league matches to be played abroad is "exceptional" and insists it "will not set a precedent".

 

I think you'll find it will.

[urban.spaceman]

Shameful cowardice. 

[bovril]

19 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

...  the "regrettable" decision to allow two European league matches to be played abroad is "exceptional" and insists it "will not set a precedent".

 

I think you'll find it will.

"It won't set a precedent because we were gonna do it anyway" 

[StanSP]

This is how sorry they are

 

 

 

[davieG]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in August there are no plans to play an English top-flight match abroad.

Not yet but we're busy working on how we can sneak it in before the fans can stop it like the Super League.

[boots60]

AC Milan v Como

 

Distance 30 miles, 45 minutes on the train

 

Milan to Perth 

 

Distance 8,500 miles, fastest flight, 19 hours including 1 change.

 

 

[Corky]

3 hours ago, purpleronnie said:

No-ones surprised with league games going abroad.  I am a little surprised Australia was chosen, but I guess theres a huge italian immigrant population there and they'd fill any stadium with huge crowds.  Just thought the US and Saudi would be the first countries to get games.

 

But like I've said before this is the future of not just football but all sports with every major sporting league have a liquid fixture list with games being played in various countries throughout the season.

 

I don't think any young fan will be against it, probably all for it.  The more traditional fan won't like it but the clubs won't care about them, havent for 30 years.

 

Funny how the american fans were criticised for not making more of a stink when NFL matches were proposed abroad but I do't think they'll be that much opposition over here.

How would it work, let's say, if we played Man United in a "home" game in the US, for example. Our crowd would be dwarfed several times over so we lose that advantage but do we keep the gate receipts? Are they split evenly? Which matches are chosen and where?

 

It is coming now, that is clear, but interesting to see how far the clubs go and what they give up to get back.

[Dan]

Mission creep is a thing and so many miss it. They never introduce these things radically (with the exception of the ridiculous super league a few years ago, which got totally buried as a result) but they will just gradually feed these things in and normalise them so that there's less pushback. Gradual managed decline.

 

Serie A and La Liga are a disgrace for this. As far as I'm concerned the seasons have an asterisk by them. Barcelona win the league but basically played 20 games at home and 18 away. I don't think the Spaniards will be as up in arms as they should be but will be interested to see how the Italians react.

[AyewJoking]

[Jon the Hat]

8 hours ago, purpleronnie said:

No-ones surprised with league games going abroad.  I am a little surprised Australia was chosen, but I guess theres a huge italian immigrant population there and they'd fill any stadium with huge crowds.  Just thought the US and Saudi would be the first countries to get games.

 

But like I've said before this is the future of not just football but all sports with every major sporting league have a liquid fixture list with games being played in various countries throughout the season.

 

I don't think any young fan will be against it, probably all for it.  The more traditional fan won't like it but the clubs won't care about them, havent for 30 years.

 

Funny how the american fans were criticised for not making more of a stink when NFL matches were proposed abroad but I do't think they'll be that much opposition over here.

Yep lots of Italians in Perth, this will be very popular - sold out pre season games every year for Italian clubs.  If you are going to play a game somewhere else, might as well do it where your fans are.  Also helps that the current WA Premier Roger Cook is a big sports fan, and happily subsidises sports (and to be fair also music) events to come to Perth.

 

NFL has always been more about TV to be honest, 95% of fans are not in the stadium.  As you say this is also the reality at the top levels of football nowadays.

[Jon the Hat]

3 hours ago, Dan said:

Mission creep is a thing and so many miss it. They never introduce these things radically (with the exception of the ridiculous super league a few years ago, which got totally buried as a result) but they will just gradually feed these things in and normalise them so that there's less pushback. Gradual managed decline.

 

Serie A and La Liga are a disgrace for this. As far as I'm concerned the seasons have an asterisk by them. Barcelona win the league but basically played 20 games at home and 18 away. I don't think the Spaniards will be as up in arms as they should be but will be interested to see how the Italians react.

They are pretty well connected with their diaspora, so might be more open to it than you expect.

[ramboacdc]

11 hours ago, Corky said:

What were the "exceptional" reasons?

 

This is the start. Sad day.

[purpleronnie]

9 hours ago, Corky said:

How would it work, let's say, if we played Man United in a "home" game in the US, for example. Our crowd would be dwarfed several times over so we lose that advantage but do we keep the gate receipts? Are they split evenly? Which matches are chosen and where?

 

It is coming now, that is clear, but interesting to see how far the clubs go and what they give up to get back.

I'd imagine they'd have to split the gate receipts, not sure any club would want to play half way round the world for a small percentage.  Although all their travel costs would be paid, and away teams dont get any gate receipts in the premier league, so 20% of 80,000 at top prices might seem reasonable.

[purpleronnie]

4 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

They are pretty well connected with their diaspora, so might be more open to it than you expect.

Agreed I think that would calm any major protests there, compare australia to playing in Saudi, that could be very different, and now makes more sense why they chose Australia.

[purpleronnie]

10 hours ago, davieG said:

Not yet but we're busy working on how we can sneak it in before the fans can stop it like the Super League.

And as soon as they see european teams making tonnes of cash and spreading their 'brand' the premier league will follow suit.

[fox_up_north]

Could we end up in a ridiculous situation where a high profile Premier League game has a noticeably lower attendance on telly but sold out in the US? 

 

I think that's how you hurt them. Damage the brand and the look.

[Aus Fox]

We’re not far off 14 Premier League clubs under American ownership.

Once this happens, games will regularly be played in the US. It’s almost the worst thing that could happen for the game in England.

[ajthefox]

I imagine we'll be talking to the NFL extensively about this.

 

It started as one game here, and is now games in Brazil, Germany, Ireland and the UK. It has worked very well for them financially even though some of the games have been terrible.

 

They will make a shedload from this from all the fans outside the respective countries and they will extend it, no doubt about it. I can't believe the weakness of the opening statement above.

 

It's disappointing but entirely predictable. We don't matter anymore and it is patently clear none of the governing bodies give a toss.

 

 

[foxile5]

I've long pointed out the steady Americanisation of football to derision.

 

"Why are you bothered about calling someone a quarter back or subject verb agreement."

 

And my ire has always been at the slow but inevitable shift towards matches abroad and the regional becoming international. 

 

Today is the natural conclusion and the beginning of the end. 

 

It might be time to pursue other sports. Football has changed beyond recognition now and will continue to do so.