By Martin Graham
Como have underlined that making sacrifices is vital to protect Serie A position in world football as they move forward with plans to face AC Milan in Perth, Australia.
UEFA gave the go-ahead for the February encounter earlier this month, acknowledging it did so “reluctantly” since no legal mechanisms exist to block the game from being staged abroad.
The fixture represents a landmark moment for Italian football, with Como framing it as a necessary response to widening financial disparities between Europe’s top leagues.
Premier League rights highlight deep economic divide
In their statement, Como pointed to the significant difference in television deals between Serie A and the Premier League. Italy’s top division currently earns around £780 million annually from its domestic broadcasting agreement, while the English league is set to collect £12 billion for domestic and international rights over the 2025–2029 cycle.
According to Como, this vast gap grants English clubs a “huge economic advantage” and ensures their continued dominance in global football markets. The club emphasized that relocating the match is “not driven by greed” but by the need to address structural challenges.
Serie A clubs face struggle for sustainability
“Most clubs in Italy are not profitable,” the club stated, outlining that financial stability is at the core of the decision. They argued that changes in travel, schedules, and routines are worthwhile if they help safeguard the league’s competitiveness.
“Sometimes sacrifice is essential, not for individual benefit but for the greater good, for growth, and above all for the survival of the league itself,” Como said.
They added that the overseas match is intended to strengthen Serie A global appeal and lay the groundwork for long-term stability.
Overseas fixtures spark debate across Europe
The move comes as Spanish sides Villarreal and Barcelona also prepare to meet in Miami this December, having secured UEFA’s approval. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin described both decisions as “regrettable” and insisted they would not become standard practice.
Football Supporters Europe voiced strong opposition, arguing that domestic games belong in “our stadiums, cities, and communities” and warning that “one domestic match abroad is one too many.”
Como look to rekindle Serie A global stature
To generate interest, Como intends to invite 50 supporters to accompany the team to Australia. The club said their ultimate objective is to restore Serie A to the heights of the 1990s, when Italian football commanded worldwide attention.
“We want to bring back the era when Serie A was the most followed, the most respected, and the most loved league globally,” they declared.
They called on clubs to adapt collectively and work together to make Italy’s top division “the talk of the world again.”
