LALIGA/Lega Serie A: European Commissioner Glen Micallef opposed to the relocation of matches abroad

"I'm deeply disappointed by proposals to stage domestic league matches outside Europe. To me it's clear: European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe," declared Glen Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, on the social network X, on 27/08/2025.

The Maltese man, in office since 01/12/2024, was reacting to the two projects currently underway in the European Top 5:
• That of LALIGA, with the agreement of the RFEF announced on 11/08/2025, to stage the Villarreal CF - FC Barcelona game on Matchday 17 of the 2025-26 LALIGA EA Sports in Miami (Florida, USA) on 20/12/2025;
• That of Lega Serie A, following a favourable opinion from the FIGC issued on 10/07/2025, to relocate the AC Milan - Como 1907 match, scheduled for Matchday 24 of the 2025-26 Serie A Enilive in February 2026, to Perth, Australia.

However, the Spanish and Italian Federations still need to obtain the agreement of international bodies such as FIFA, UEFA, Concacaf (for the match scheduled in Miami) and the AFC (for the match in Perth, as…