Western Australia Government and Serie A League President comment on the inability to hold the Milan-Como match in Perth
- Plans to host in Perth the first match of a European Championship ever played outside national borders have been canceled by mutual agreement.
- The decision was made due to newly imposed football sanctions and onerous conditions.
- The proposal had already generated over $280 million in global media exposure for Western Australia.
- Plans to host the first official European Championship match outside national borders in Perth were canceled following a shared agreement between the Serie A League and the Government of Western Australia.
Both parties made this decision because the financial risks could not be mitigated, the approval conditions were burdensome, and last-minute complications arose beyond their control.
The proposed match would have been the first time a high-level European Championship fixture, awarding points, was played outside national borders, representing a unique opportunity for Western Australia to make football history.
The proposal had been approved by all 20 Serie A clubs, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
However, the additional onerous conditions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to authorize the match could not be met without financial risk for the Government of Western Australia and Serie A League.
The Government and Serie A League explored every practical option to bring the historic fixture to Western Australia.
Analysis of Perth’s bid shows that, since April, it had already generated over $280 million in global media visibility, with the Australian city widely covered by major international media in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Indonesia, and France.
The 'Cook' Government remains committed to securing major international events that bring economic returns to the state, helping diversify the economy and supporting tourism and hospitality sectors in Western Australia.
Statement from Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Our Government worked closely with AC Milan and the Serie A League, and we were confident that this first global event would take place in Perth. It is disappointing, but it is the right decision: we were not willing to expose Western Australia to an unacceptable level of risk. This project was prepared over 12 months, and we did everything possible to complete it, but football politics, legal issues, and bureaucracy became obstacles. There was no manual to follow, because it had never happened anywhere in the world. We undertook this project for the enormous economic benefits it would have brought to our state and for the contribution it would have made to the growth of football in Australia. It is important to note that no payment was made, and Western Australia suffered no losses in this process, as no agreement was finalized. We know that over the past six months, Perth has been the focus of major global media and European football circles like never before, providing excellent visibility for our state and reinforcing our reputation for hosting world-class events. Our relationship with the Serie A League and Milan is stronger than ever, and I want to acknowledge their professionalism and trust in Perth and Western Australia throughout this process."
Comment from Serie A League President Ezio Simonelli:
"Despite the Serie A League having followed the complex authorization process promptly and correctly over several months, including approval from the participating clubs, the Serie A League Assembly, the FIGC Federal Council, the UEFA Executive Committee, and the Australian Federation, and despite having even accepted sporting conditions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that were highly questionable, the escalation of further unacceptable demands in recent hours from the AFC toward the Australian Federation, and consequently the Government of Western Australia and the Serie A League, made it impossible to hold the Milan-Como match in Perth on February 8.
While expressing regret over the outcome of this project, we remain firmly convinced that this conclusion represents a missed opportunity in the international growth of Italian football and deprives the many Serie A fans abroad of the dream of witnessing a live match of their favorite team."
Source: Lega Serie A
