AC Milan will play Como in February in a landmark game, given that a Serie A fixture will be played in Australia, if FIFA approve the decision.
Talk about a game in Australia has been present for almost a year now, if not longer. However, it has only just been approved by UEFA, after the FIGC were quick to accept the idea. Though they are not uncontested.
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Several people have voiced their frustrations at the plans, whilst Mike Maignan, the Rossoneri’s captain, and Adrien Rabiot have both gone against the idea publicly. It is an intriguing situation, given that all parties (probably) have a point.
Como publish statement
Today, the first ‘plans’ have been released by Como in a long statement to their fanbase, explaining the situation, and offering a lure to the game. The detailed letter to the ‘Como family and friends’ can be seen below, with the letter also addressed to ‘fellow Serie A supporters’.
“Dear Como Family, Friends, and Fellow Serie A Supporters,
“If approved by FIFA, Como 1907 will travel to Perth, Australia, this February to face AC Milan, taking part in a shared mission to make Serie A the conversation of world football once again, and to secure a stronger future for every club that represents Serie A.
“We understand that this journey may demand sacrifices in convenience, comfort, and routine. Yet 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.
“We have all seen what happens when a league fails to evolve. In France, the collapse of the domestic broadcasting deal left clubs in turmoil, players unpaid, and fans disheartened. French football is still struggling to recover from that setback.
“Meanwhile, the Premier League continues to dominate the global stage. Its latest broadcasting agreements are worth over £12 billion for the next cycle from 2025 to 2029, including £6.7 billion from UK domestic rights and around £6.5 billion from international deals. For the first time, its overseas income is now worth more than its domestic rights.
“By comparison, Serie A’s domestic TV deal is valued at about €900 million per year, and its international rights generate less than ten percent of what the Premier League earns abroad. This imbalance gives English clubs an enormous financial advantage, allowing them to keep their stars, attract the best talent, and expand their global influence.
“We must ask ourselves honestly how we can retain our best players, build competitive teams, and attract the world’s elite to Serie A if we do not adapt. This is not a matter of greed. Most clubs in Italy are not profitable. It is about ensuring survival and building a future where Serie A remains competitive, respected, and globally admired.
“Our goal is clear. We want to restore Serie A to the glory it enjoyed in the 1990s, when Italian football was the most watched, most respected, and most loved league in the world. To achieve that, we must evolve, unite, and make Serie A the talk around the globe again.
“Just as we proudly represented Italian football at The Soccer Tournament (TST) in the United States, we now carry that same mission to Perth. This is not just a match. It is a statement of intent, a movement to reconnect the world with the beauty, culture, and passion of Italian football.
“We want you to be part of it. We are inviting 50 fans to join us on this journey to Australia to stand beside us as ambassadors of Como 1907 and Serie A. Together, we will show the world what Italian football truly represents: heritage, heart, and hope for the future.
“Together we stand. Together we rise. Together we survive.”
PL revenues are a direct result of competent businessman versus incompetent italian administration.
It’s a plethora of items:
1) tax on football salaries.
2) old stadiums.
3) aged football style.
4) very little development into youth sector.
Serie A was just left in the past – it’s a choice of their “competent” leaders. Not everyone can run a successful football business – as clearly demonstrated. Nobody in Serie A probably asked him/herself – what do ours fans want? On stadium and in front of the TV.
This. English clubs didn’t have to play games all over the world. The PL was also helped by the huge anglophone global diaspora that made it easy to market the league, as there is a familiarity, if not an affinity for all things English in many parts of the world. Playing Serie A games in Australia isn’t going to change that or address the issues Tom pointed out.
Usually a bad sign anytime someone says “it’s for the greater good”. Also, how is going to Australia going to make up 11.1 BILLION dollars to match the tier of premier league profits? This is just Serie A running away b/c they can’t crack the preverbal nut that is the “legal system” within Italy. They can’t get guarantees since every politician there is working for someone else globally, therefore, said politicians really don’t care what happens within Italy as long as it satisfies their handlers. As a result, everything Tom mentioned above has taken place. Including an impossible to reach TV deal globally. Additionally, a huge amount of the $ that flows into the premier league comes from USA tv rights from NBC and a blanket of other hosts within the US. It makes sense Americans would be more likely to embrace a league that speaks their language and has familiar customs. All this to say, going to Australia or Los Angeles won’t really make any difference as long as the systems are still failing Italy.