The man in charge of the fixture scheduling for Serie A, Andrea Butti, has revealed that AC Milan asked for the game against Inter to be played on a day it has never been played before.
News emerged yesterday suggesting that Milan were looking to have the derby against Inter next month – originally scheduled for Sunday 21 April – moved back one day to the Monday night.
It is a night that the Milan derby has never been played on, but with such a congested fixture list around that period it is something that the Rossoneri leadership have seemingly pushed for.
Butti spoke on TeleLombardia to also talk about the next Milan derby which will be played on a Monday, while awaiting the official press release which will arrive today.
“Milan-Inter is one of the best matches , compared to the product we want to export. In this Milan-Inter we will have to show it to the whole planet and we should broadcast it on Sunday between 4pm and 5pm, when the Premier League broadcasts its best match,” he said (via Calciomercato.com).
“If we did this, we would be accused of having done a favour to those who don’t play in Europe on Thursdays, therefore to Inter. The main match of the Italian league, Juve-Inter, by appeal and habit, has generated more than two million viewers and Milan-Inter could do more if we also broadcast it on Sunday evening.
“But then we have the sporting needs of Milan, the return leg of the Europa League on Thursday with possible extra time. Milan asked us to play on Monday. And it is the match that is broadcast by Sky which broadcasts 8:45pm on Saturday, 12:30pm on Sunday and Monday evening.
“Every weekend, 10 matches are broadcast, which are chosen by the two owner broadcasters. The two broadcasters exchanged Juve-Cagliari – destined for DAZN – and Roma-Bologna, which however should be broadcast on Sunday at 12:30, too early. It would go to Monday, when Milan asked us to play.
“So Juve-Cagliari will be brought forward to Friday. The Milan and Roma matches will take place on Monday, and Roma-Bologna will be ‘sacrificed’ at 6:30pm on Monday, a match with a decisive impact on the Champions League fight.
“Then there are cities like Milan with the capacity to absorb large events even during the week, and the Police Commissioner and Prefect have said they are available.”
Butti also gave an update regarding the dates for the 2024-25 season, namely when it will commence and the obstacles that the new version of the Champions League will bring.
“The next season will start on August 17th, 3 days and then the break, then we start with the European competitions.
“Next year the new Champions League will be played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, so at the start of the season we will also have to wait for the UEFA draw to organise from the fourth match day.
“Next year will be even more complicated. The new Champions League will create problems in January and February, with the decisive matches in Europe.”
