Milan vs Como in Perth: The Cross-Border Plan That Didn’t Fly

Cancellation decision and background

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) halted plans to stage the Milan vs Como fixture in the Italian league in Perth, Australia, warning of sanctions if its conditions were not satisfied to green-light this rare event. The move reflected concerns over financial risk and late-stage complexities that emerged in the final hours.

As reported by The Guardian, the match would have been the first European top-flight clash played outside its home country, but the opportunity was scrapped due to the outlined risks and last-minute hurdles.

Parties involved and outcome

The Italian league president Itzio Simeoni said AFC raised its demands on the Australian federation in the final hours in an unacceptable manner, and after coordination between the Western Australia government and the Lega Serie A, it became impossible to hold the Milan vs Como game in Perth on February 8.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) had previously approved relocating the match due to the unavailability of San Siro for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony, with UEFA also giving reluctant approval in October.

Practically, the move was also pitched as a promotional opportunity to showcase Serie A abroad, arguing football should emulate other popular sports in cross-border showcases.

Significance and context

Beyond logistics, the Italian league viewed the game as a chance to promote the league internationally, analogous to promotions seen in cycling and major American leagues (NFL, NBA). The AFC’s insistence on appointing referees added another hurdle, though the Lega Serie A stated on December 18 that this issue had been resolved.

The cancellation follows a separate plan from two months earlier to stage a Barcelona vs Villarreal match in Miami, which faced strong domestic criticism in Spain.

In short, Milan vs Como in Perth has been officially shelved, leaving fans with a reminder that cross-border ambition in football must navigate a complex web of governance, finance, and logistics.

Punchline 1: Football plans travel faster than a referee’s whistle—except when they get stuck at border control. Punchline 2: If cross-border matches were a transfer window, this one would be stuck in moral negotiations and paperwork limbo for months.