Backtrack in Serie A: Milan – Como will not be played in Perth

Milan-Como will not be played in Perth. I am the one to communicate it Western Australia and Lega Calcio Serie A in a joint note. “Both parties – we read – took this decision because of the financial risks that could not be contained, onerous approval conditions and last minute complications beyond their control. The proposed match would be the first time a high-level, points-scoring European Championship match was played outside the country, representing a unique opportunity for Western Australia to make international football history.”

“The plans to host the first official match of a European Championship outside the national borders in Perth have been cancelled, following the agreement shared between the Lega Calcio Serie A and the Government of Western Australia”, continues the note, “The proposal had been approved by all 20 clubs of the Serie A Football League, by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). However, the onerous additional conditions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to sanction the match could not be met without financial risk to the Government of Western Australia and Lega Calcio Serie A. The Government and Lega Calcio Serie A explored every practicable option to bring the historic match to Western Australia. Analysis of Perth’s application reveals that, since April, it has already generated more than that $280 million in visibility global media, with the Australian city widely discussed by major international media in the US, UK, Italy, Indonesia and France. The Cook Government remains committed to securing major international events that bring an economic return to the State, helping to diversify the economy and promote the tourism and hospitality sectors in Western Australia.”

The Minister of Sports, I understand the need for internationalisation

“Milan-Como? Then things go as they should go. I take note of it, also because I’m an interested actor in some ways, but I know how to stay in my place.” This is how the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi comments on the stop to the Milan-Como organization in Perth, Australia, clarifying that he respects the roles with respect to the Lega Serie A.

“I feel like I represent not only the interests of the organisers, but also and I would say above all the interests of the fans – underlined the minister – because they are an indispensable and irreplaceable component, the real reason for the success of football and sport in general”.

“I understand the need for internationalisation, for an increase in revenues. We must all give every support so that financial resources can be freed up to enable football to express its full potential. “Respect towards the fans does not come through declarations of intent, but the transformation of intentions into facts”, explained Abodi. The minister then added on the operation of playing Milan – Como in Perth in Australia: “He threw his heart over the obstacle with a certain lightness talking about the idea for months without starting from the necessary organizational conditions”.

“Let’s recover this match, which was certainly not lost, but was still far away. I have also received messages from Italian fans in Australia in recent days, so I am speaking without controversy. Now we welcome Milan-Como back and we will also see where it will be played”, he concluded.