The controversial change of venue for the match between Milan and Como to Australia was confirmed by Italian Serie A organizers on Thursday (18).
“The game between Milan and Como will be played on February 8 in Perth,” declared Serie A president Ezio Simonelli to broadcaster Italia Uno, before the first semi-final of the Italian Super Cup, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which ended with Napoli’s 2-0 victory over the Rossoneri team.
“We had a very cordial meeting with [o presidente da Fifa, Gianni] Infantino. We had some doubts about the obligations imposed on us, particularly in relation to the use of foreign arbitrators, but [o presidente da Comissão de Árbitros da Fifa, Pierluigi] Collina gave us assurances about her qualifications,” added Simonelli.
To approve the change of venue for the match, the AFC (Asian Football Confederation), to which Australia is affiliated, demanded that it be conducted by AFC referees and not Italians.
“We will accept this condition, but we will still have other issues to resolve,” said Simonelli.
For the first time in its history, Serie A will hold one of its games abroad.
The duel, corresponding to the 24th round of the Italian championship, cannot be played at San Siro, Milan’s home ground, as the stadium will be used at the beginning of February for the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, between February 6th and 22nd.
Milan’s French players Adrien Rabiot and Mike Maignan expressed dissatisfaction with the game, which will involve a round trip, in a matter of a few days, of more than 13 thousand kilometers.
Despite the pressure, the Italian Serie A did not give up on its project, unlike the Spanish LaLiga, which, faced with a wave of protests, canceled the transfer of the game between Villarreal and Barcelona to Miami, in the United States, in October.
