Serie A Hits Back At EU Commissioner After Criticism Over Hosting Milan vs Como In Australia

Members on the Serie A board have hit back at criticism from EU Commissioner, Glenn Micaellef, following his comments over the proposed move to host Milan vs Como in Australia.

Will Milan vs Como Take Place In Australia?

The leading division in Italy made headlines in June 2025 after announcing plans to take Serie A league action to Australia by hosting AC Milan vs Como in Perth.

Fans have become slightly accustom to matches taking place outside of Italy, with the Supercoppa Italiana taking place in Saudi Arabia, China and Qatar over the years.

However, a league fixture is yet to travel outside of Italy, but this could change in February 2026 – however these plans have not been confirmed by the relevant governing bodies.

Como manager, Cesc Fabregas, was not best-pleased by the idea and believes league fixtures should be competed in their respective home grounds.

As for Milan, the issue has become a secondary problem after it was confirmed that Rafael Leao will miss the upcoming fixtures with a calf injury.

Overall this proposal has received a significant amount of backlash from supporters, but also from EU Commissioner, Glenn Micaellef, who called the idea a ‘betrayal’.

Glenn Micaellef said (Via Twitter / X): “I’m deeply disappointed by proposals to stage domestic league matches outside Europe. Today I spoke with Ronan Evain of Football Supporters Europe to express my solidarity and make clear that I will stand with football fans, especially in Spain and Italy.

“At the EU Sport Forum in Krakow, I promised that fans would be fully included in discussions on sport and governance. To me it’s clear: European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe.

“As Commissioner and as a lifelong football fan, I believe that clubs owe most of their success to their loyal fans and 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.”

What Did Serie A Say About Playing In Australia?

Taking the sport to countries around the world is not a revolutionary idea, with La Liga preparing to host Barcelona vs Villarreal in Miami at the end of 2025.

Villarreal have already announced the plan to cover travel fees for their season ticket holders that plan to take the flight to the United States in December.

To put it simply, hosting league matches across the world will allow clubs to tap into new markets, increase revenue and attempt new marketing strategies.

Additionally, it allows the supporters of Milan and Como from outside of Italy to see their club, while also bringing star names to a country that is ever-evolving in soccer.

Interestingly, former AC Milan star Mario Balotelli is considering a move to the Australian A-League and could be a strong link to bring the fixture to Perth.

After hearing the comments from Glenn Micaellef, the Serie A took to social media and hit back at the EU Commissioner’s criticisms – calling the term betrayal ‘excessive’.

Serie A said (Via Twitter / X): “Lega Serie A is astonished by the words of European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, whose comments seem to underestimate the complexity and strategic value of initiatives aimed at promoting Italian football on a global scale, along the lines of what leagues such as the NBA and NFL are already doing by playing matches in Europe.

“To speak of betrayal for a single match, out of a total of 380 Serie A matches, seems an excessive position, which risks fuelling a populist debate, far from a constructive and modern vision of sport.”