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a historical plan serie a The match between AC Milan and Como in Perth, Australia has been canceled due to unavoidable financial risks for the organisers.
ambitious proposalThe match, which had received approval from all 20 top-flight clubs, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), UEFA and the Western Australian Government, was scheduled for 8 February.
Despite claims that it had already generated $280 million (about £138.4 million) in global media exposure for the kingdom, the initiative was canceled by mutual agreement.
A joint statement from the FIGC and the WA Government confirmed widespread support, but added: “The tough conditions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to sanction the fixture could not have been implemented without financial risks to the Western Australian Government and Serie A that could not be mitigated.”
The cancellation is another blow to European leagues looking to play competitive matches abroad, following the postponement of a scheduled La Liga clash between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami last December.
Serie A president Ezio Simonelli expressed his disappointment, revealing that league bosses had undergone a “complex authorization process” over 12 months and even accepted “highly questionable playing conditions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation” before finally pulling the plug due to “further unacceptable demands”.
Simonelli concluded: “While expressing disappointment at the outcome of this project, we are strongly convinced that this conclusion is a missed opportunity in the development of Italian football at the international level, depriving many Serie A fans abroad of the dream of attending a match of their favorite team in person.”
The match between Milan and Como would have been the first European match to be played abroad, but it will now take place in Italy.
Milan have made a strong start to the season and are just one point behind league leaders Inter.