- Match slated for February 8 at Optus Stadium
- AC Milan to tackle Como in historic fixture
Serie A President Ezio Simonelli says the proposed match in Australia remains a work in progress and has not been abandoned.
But ‘unacceptable’ conditions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) still stand in the way of the ground-breaking match going ahead in Perth on February 8, according to the Italian league chief.
The Italian FA approved Serie A’s request to move the fixture between AC Milan and Como due to San Siro’s unavailability as the venue is hosting the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
UEFA reluctantly cleared the Serie A match in October in a decision that also covered La Liga‘s plan to stage a Spanish league game between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami this month, a plan later cancelled following strong domestic opposition.
Recent Italian media reports suggested the Perth match, which would become the first major European domestic league fixture played outside its home country, was also unlikely to go ahead.
But Simonelli told reporters on Friday: ‘I’ve read things in recent days that aren’t correct. It’s not an idea that has been abandoned, but one that is still in progress. We’ve received many favourable opinions.’
Serie A President Ezio Simonelli says the proposed match in Perth next February remains a work in progress and has not been abandoned
The San Siro is not available as the venue is hosting the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics (pictured, Como manager Cesc Fabregas)
Simonelli said the AFC was the only body that did not give unconditional approval, instead attaching two requirements.
The conditions stated that the match could not be organised, promoted or marketed by Serie A and that the AFC would appoint the match officials.
‘That’s why we asked FIFA to give a final answer,’ Simonelli said.
‘We don’t consider those conditions acceptable, not because we don’t want to accept them, but because it is impossible to play an Italian league match without defining it as such. Just as it is also impossible to go to Australia without Italian referees.’
He noted that Italian referees will officiate the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia next week, also under the AFC’s jurisdiction.
‘Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding,’ he said. ‘If it is, we consider those conditions non-existent, and take it as a favourable opinion.’
Simonelli said he will meet FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Doha on December 17 in a bid to resolve the issue. He added that Serie A had not prepared alternative plans and continue to work towards staging the match in Perth on February 8.
‘If FIFA says the match cannot take place, we’ll accept that,’ he said. ‘I’m not making predictions. I’m simply saying that the process is still ongoing.’