LALIGA/Serie A: UEFA "exceptionally & reluctantly" authorises matches outside Europe

The FIGC's request to relocate the AC Milan - Como 1907 game (Matchday 24 of the 2025-26 Serie A Enilive season) to Perth (AUS) in February 2026 and the RFEF's request to organise the Villarreal CF - FC Barcelona game (Matchday 17 of the 2025-26 LALIGA EA Sports season) in Miami (Florida, USA) on 20/12/2025 have been "approved on an exceptional basis amid regulatory gaps at global level," announced UEFA on 06/10/2025.

Following its executive committee meeting in Tirana (ALB) on 11/09/2025, the European Confederation had indicated that it wished to continue its consultations before giving its response to the Italian and Spanish federations. Now, although this phase of dialogue with stakeholders has "confirmed the widespread lack of support that had already been raised by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions around the concept of domestic league matches being relocated abroad" and UEFA "has reiterated its clear opposition" to the initiative, the executive committee has "reluctantly" authorised it for the two matches concerned "given that the relevant FIFA…