UEFA has reluctantly approved plans to stage a LaLiga game between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami, Florida and an Italian Serie A match in Australia.
ESPN said UEFA made it plain that it was in “clear opposition” to the idea of playing domestic league games outside of their home countries.
European football’s governing body said, however, that it had approved two requests, one from LaLiga and another from Serie A involving AC Milan and Como, citing FIFA’s vague framework.
UEFA had previously been delaying its decision on whether a Villarreal-Barcelona clash could be held at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on the weekend starting on December 20, while Milan and Como have a plan to face each other in Perth, Australia, in February.
UEFA said the two requests were approved on an exceptional basis amid regulatory gaps at global level.
After the meeting of its Executive Committee in Tirana, UEFA undertook further consultations with stakeholders to assess the extent of the implications of the issue, following the applications it received from the Spanish and Italian national football associations.
UEFA said that consultation 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.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said: “League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions.
“Our consultation confirmed the breadth of these concerns. I would like to thank the 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible engagement on such a sensitive issue.
“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment.”
UEFA said that given that the relevant FIFA regulatory framework – currently under review – is not clear and detailed enough, the UEFA Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it.
UEFA added that it will actively contribute to the ongoing work led by FIFA to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close bond between clubs, their supporters and local communities.
In parallel, all UEFA national associations confirmed their commitment to engage with UEFA before submitting any future requests. In doing so, they voiced their collective determination to safeguard the wider interests of European football.
The final decision on staging these matches will now pass to FIFA, which is still in the process of finishing new regulations.
The decision comes amid fierce opposition from fan groups across Europe.
ESPN said the decision will be seen as a major win for LaLiga, which has been trying to relocate a game to the United States since 2017.
After the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) backed the proposals earlier this year, UEFA’s go-ahead, however reluctant, is seen as a significant step forward.
There could still be a spanner in the works, however, as on Sunday, December 21, the Miami Dolphins are due to play Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium in the NFL. The game is currently set for the lucrative “Sunday Night Football” slot.
Reconfiguring the stadium from hosting soccer one day to American football the next, or vice versa, would be challenging, although sources have told ESPN it would be possible.
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