The Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has hit back at Adrien Rabiot’s comments regarding AC Milan’s game against Como being moved to Australia.
Earlier in the week, it was announced that UEFA have given their approval for Milan to play Como in Perth. San Siro is unusable due to the Winter Olympics being on and so an alternative venue was sought out, with the Optus Stadium being chosen.
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De Siervo spoke to ANSA (via Calciomercato.com) outside the League Clubs’ Assembly which is taking place at the Stadio Olimpico, and he was asked about what Rabiot said.
“Rabiot forgets, like all footballers who earn millions of euros, that they are paid to do something, that is, play football. He should have respect for the money he earns and support his employer more, that is, Milan, who accepted and pushed for this match to be played abroad,” he said.
“The players’ health is a fundamental element, we’re fighting to make this thing logical. We’re talking about something complicated, but not impossible. We’re trying to do it harmoniously, especially if you think of it as an exceptional event.
“The organisational challenge is complicated, the flight hours are long, but you’re traveling business class to the other side of the world, something the teams do regularly.
” Top players, who earn salaries commensurate with the effort they put in, should understand better than others that this is a sacrifice that can be made.”
What Rabiot said
Rabiot spoke to Le Figaro while away with the French national team and he was asked about playing a game on the other side of the world, expressing a negative opinion on things.
“I was surprised when I learned that Milan and I will be playing a Serie A match against Como… in Australia! It’s completely crazy. But these are financial agreements to give visibility to the championship, things that are beyond us.
“There’s a lot of talk about schedules and player health, but this all seems truly absurd. It’s crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt, as always.”
1) It’s a 19 hour flight in one direction under ideal conditions.
2) Can’t wait until we have direct flights to the moon and Mars so Serie A games can be played there.
3) Instead of focusing on making structural and infrastructural changes to improve quality of Serie A, leadership prefers cosmetic changes and hushing anyone that has a different view.
4) Luigi probably believes he is allocating money to Rabiot…what a misguided soul
Players should make a sacrifice and be happy to move Serie A games way from its country, Italy? Which drugs is this guy on? Seriously.
He’s an !d!0t as are the rest of the dinosaurs running the league. Australia is a bat-$h!t crazy idea no matter how you slice it.
If it is done for “league exposure”, then move the game somewhere else more lucrative and provide exposure. Go to Asia. Hell, go to US even (would be a shorter flight).
This is the problem with this league. Every new decision is dumber than the one before.
What a clown. That money would be better spent invested in the league domesticaly, not on the other side of the globe. Do the summer tournees not do enough for the italian league?
What I don’t get is, why Australia?
It is a country of about 25m people, most of whom openly hate soccer/football.
So it’s not a very big market.
You would find more fans by playing in Egypt which is a lot closer!
Egypt isn’t really a big country for football clubs commercially, and for example with similar population, Japan is. And so on. But as you said, Australia really makes 0 sense.
Sure Japan makes sense. Or just play in the USA, it’s closer
Actually I retract that, I don’t think sportswashing in the USA is a good look right now
Lol. I see you sir!
Even though small, the population has money and are willing to pay, very much like in North American market. These are the folks that contribute a significant portion to merch as a revenue source
As an italian australian who has supported milan for over 25 years and never had the opportunity to see milan play without spending a shit load of money to travel to the otherside of the world, Australia makes as much sense as america.
We are a sporting nation. It says a lot about you saying why Australia…..
Australia is a nation with a MASSIVE multicultural landscape ranging from whole towns that are italian, greek, croatian backgrounds. Too say we dont deserve to see our beloved teams play here is ridiculous. What’s your average attendance number for any local game? Because in australia most sporting events average 80,000 people and that is average. Would you prefer them to play in korea? Saudi arabia? America? Like what point are you making?
Yeah we openly “hate football/soccer” (completely untrue and is arguably the 2nd most popular sport here) which is why we have been trying to get the world cup since the shitshow that was the korean world cup.
You know nothing of the country and the money sport brings in.
Playing the game in NYC or east coast U.S. makes a lot more sense than this. But, these games should only be played in Italy. Perth, Australia makes absolutely zero sense. It shocks the conscience if i’m being honest.
If I were Rabiot I would have given this аsshоle the beating of his life!
playing italian super cup in mid season not enough?
also making it a 4 team competition instead of a 2 team competition
rabiot would still get paid if this game was postponed or played in another italian stadium
whats players health? (sarc)
money grab
money grab
money grab
Based on this idiot’s comments it’s safe to assume the Aussies paid good money personally to him.
It is necessary to promote the league. Don’t be shortsighted. EPL is so dominate force around the world. even the related team earn more TV money than champions in Italy or Germany.
It’s okay to expand your geographical presence. Luckily we have planes and hotels worldwide. I see nothing wrong at playing in Australia or USA if it’s good for our beloved team. The market is global so should be a club named AC Milan.