Serie A President Reveals Why AC Milan vs Como Will No Longer Take Place In Australia

Serie A President Ezio Simonelli has revealed why plans to host AC Milan vs Como in Perth, Australia were scrapped.

Serie A President Reveals Why AC Milan vs Como Will Not Be In Australia

After months of discussion and outrage, AC Milan and Como will not face off in Perth, Australia as plans to host Serie A abroad have fallen  through.

Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, Serie A officials proposed the idea of moving AC Milan vs Como to Australia as the San Siro will be unavailable during the opening stages of 2026 due to the Winter Olympics.

These plans were met with fierce backlash from supporters and even the club’s managers, Max Allegri and Cesc Fabregas.

The match appeared to be going ahead until December 2025, as the proposal began to dwindle due to concerns over the financial risks and complex conditions set by the Asian Football Confederation.

Both clubs were set to receive a substantial amount of funds for the trip to Australia, which would have been well-received by AC Milan as the Rossoneri prepare a €15m bid for Andriy Lunin.

However, Serie A President Ezio Simonelli has now revealed why the plans fell through – suggesting that the Asian Football Confederation set unrealistic conditions.

Simonelli said: “I understand – as a fan, I understand, and I offer my full sympathy – that playing the match 13,000 km away from us is quite unusual and detrimental to the fans, but this was the choice of the clubs involved, not the Lega, which submitted a series of proposals. The Australian one was by far the most advantageous.

“What happened is clear enough for anyone who has read the Western Australian government’s statement. The Lega accepted conditions that were difficult to accept, such as the refereeing. When they were accepted, the AFC upped the ante, imposing even more stringent conditions, demanding indefinite and undefinable guarantees from the Western Australian government, which then asked the League to indemnify them.

“Faced with this indefinable financial guarantee, claiming that any damages resulting from the organisation of the match were unfounded, the request was clearly unfounded. At that point, the Lega offices informed the Australian government that the indemnity was not being offered, and the government withdrew its offer. It wasn’t the Lega that withdrew.”

AC Milan Prepare For Huge January Window

The Rossoneri will be looking to divert their focus onto the January transfer window following this collapse and Allegri has already targeted a host of star names.

Milan currently sit second in Serie A following a strong start to the season and Allegri has managed to get the best out of USMNT star Christian Pulisic.

The American international was on target once again during the Rossoneri’s 3-0 win over Hellas Verona, but Pulisic has been unsettled by the Italian press after rumors over a relationship with Sydney Sweeney.

Keeping a hold of Pulisic will be Allegri’s main priority, but the Italian manager is still searching for reinforcements and Milan are close to bringing in German striker Niclas Fullkrug.

The West Ham star could be joined by Chelsea star Axel Disasi as he looks for a move away from Stamford Bridge, joining his former teammate Christopher Nkunku.