The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) imposed conditions that forced organisers to cancel plans to stage a Serie A league match between AC Milan and Como in Australia.
Match Details And Reason For Cancellation
The organizers scheduled the fixture for February 8, 2026, in Perth, making it the first European domestic league match to be played outside Europe.
Serie A and the Western Australian government confirmed the cancellation on Monday, citing financial and logistical challenges. The decisive factor was a set of last-minute AFC demands, including control over the appointment of match officials, which Serie A deemed unacceptable.
Background And Official Reaction
The organizers relocated the match from Milan’s San Siro, which will host the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. It had already received approval from the Italian FA and limited clearance from UEFA before the AFC conditions emerged.
Serie A president Ezio Simonelli said the growing demands made it impossible to proceed.
In the face of further and unacceptable requests by the AFC, it has become impossible to play the Milan-Como match in Perth.
Match Context
Serie A had hoped the Australia fixture would help expand its global reach, following the model of leagues such as the NFL and NBA. The decision mirrors La Liga’s earlier cancellation of plans to stage a Barcelona vs Villarreal match in Miami.
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