La Liga
Villarreal v Barcelona to be played in Miami
Serie A
AC Milan v Como to be played in Perth, Western Australia.

UEFA have reluctantly approved this but say it does not set any precedent. If reluctant, they should have just said no.

Ceferin, UEFA President, said: “League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions.

“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent.”

No matter what they say I think it's the thin edge of the wedge.

Don't understand how it can't not be setting a precedent?

Does it really matter?

The numerous American owners in this country most certainly will see it as a precedent

If this ever happened with Burnley in the PL I think that would seal my permanent move over to non-league

mkmel wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 6:31 pm

No matter what they say I think it's the thin edge of the wedge.

Quite right. I was over in Vegas last year and the place was full of Aussie rugby league fans for a domestic match that was being played over there. Ok it was novel but the cost for most fans would be prohibitive. I doubt we'll be seeing Burnley vs Bournemouth over there any time soon. Maybe Spurs vs Utd because of the huge fan bases though.

Barcelona are indeed 'more than a club' now, they're also a franchise. If they generate more revenue in Miami, they'll play more games there.

equinox wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 6:37 pm

Does it really matter?

Absolutely it matters

I’m not sure what has prevented UEFA from refusing this but rules need to be put in place to stop it from happening again anywhere.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 7:00 pm

Absolutely it matters

Unless you want to watch Burnley take on Bournemouth in Salt Lake City.

ClaretLoup wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 8:25 pm

Unless you want to watch Burnley take on Bournemouth in Salt Lake City.

Don’t even joke about it

It's easy to say you've 'reluctantly' agreed to something.

Just a cop out.

equinox wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 6:37 pm

Does it really matter?

Yes it matters. It doesn't take much imagination to envisage one of our games against the "Big Six" being moved abroad, making incredibly difficult to attend.

"The venue switch has been triggered by Winter Olympic Games logistics, with Milan’s San Siro stadium hosting the opening ceremony for the 2026 Games on 6 February – the weekend that the game is scheduled to take place".

Fully understandable. If your own ground is being used for an opening ceremony you'd have to find an alternative stadium.

So playing it in a ground that's in a country on the other side of the world makes perfect sense!

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 8:38 pm

It's easy to say you've 'reluctantly' agreed to something.

Just a cop out.

I don’t know why they’ve had their arms pushed up their backs on this but they clearly didn’t want to approve it.

A farce

Bow wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 6:49 pm

If this ever happened with Burnley in the PL I think that would seal my permanent move over to non-league

Me too along with my sky subscriptions and the watching of any premier league game. I already watch very little football outside of Burnley compared to how much i used to thanjs to VAR, this would be me done.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 8:42 pm

I don’t know why they’ve had their arms pushed up their backs on this but they clearly didn’t want to approve it.

Well who is who's pushed for it? The clubs involved? The host cities involved? FIFA?

This is one of those things that should never happen

AC Milan v Como, while somewhat of a local derby, is hardly the kind of clash of the titans that you envisage hoards of supporters watching on the other side of the world.

For me, the main point of supporting a football club is having your home ground feel like a cauldron in a derby match. It's not quite the same at a neutral ground. This was evident at Wembley in the play off final, where the crowd was loud but it didn't quite feel coordinated or intimidating

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 9:32 pm

Well who is who's pushed for it? The clubs involved? The host cities involved? FIFA?

Officially the clubs but I'm sure they've been getting a helping hand

This feels like uefa were aware they'd lose a court case if they refused it.

It may be an opportunity to strengthen their rules to stop it happening again but I guess that will take some agreement.

Accy Clarets to Salt Lake City.

Always going to happen unfortunately, money talks..

Has Perth got an indoor stadium? Average daily high temperature in February is 32 degrees, but the average February peak is 40 degrees. The record is 46 degrees.

dsr wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 07, 2025 2:35 am

Has Perth got an indoor stadium? Average daily high temperature in February is 32 degrees, but the average February peak is 40 degrees. The record is 46 degrees.

If they kickoff at 10pm that would be early afternoon back in Italy. And i agree with those saying its only a matter of time till the American owners in the Prem are pushing for it again.

I think they've allowed it because of the winter Olympics and barcas stadium still not being finished. They use the Olympic stadium for rugby also, maybe they already had a big game pencilled in for the date.

I think if I had bought a season ticket for a club then someone told me " Oh by the way, we are playing two games in Vegas this season it's up to you if you want to go" I'd be well ****** off. It's definitely a precedent.

ClaretGeorgina wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 06, 2025 11:02 pm

Accy Clarets to Salt Lake City.

Let's see how p****d off Leisure gets with the "no shows"!!!

Sick of these sh1theads ruining our game... and those who meekly roll over and accept it.

Disgraceful.

Money & Greed = UEFA & FIFA .

The game has been stolen by global corporations. They steal everything.

If UEFA really mean that they don’t want to disenfranchise local fans, they should introduce a rule so that any club playing a competitive fixture overseas are obliged to provide transport for all season ticket holders. Tickets for those that can’t go must then be made available to other supporters on a points basis!

theduke wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 07, 2025 7:32 am

I think they've allowed it because of the winter Olympics and barcas stadium still not being finished. They use the Olympic stadium for rugby also, maybe they already had a big game pencilled in for the date.

If Barcelona want to argue that the stadium isn't available that weekend, fair enough. If they want to argue that it must be played that weekend because of fixture congestion, then I can semi-see the point. But if they're arguing that it has to be Perth because it's the nearest suitable stadium ...

UEFA should have told them to find somewhere nearer. Find a more local stadium, do a deal to make it free to watch on TV for the benefit of those who can't get in.

Out of interest, why on earth have they moved it to Perth?

Is there a large Italian population there, or great interest that means it would be popular with local football fans?

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 07, 2025 7:17 am

If they kickoff at 10pm that would be early afternoon back in Italy. And i agree with those saying its only a matter of time till the American owners in the Prem are pushing for it again.

Definitely a reason to not want Birmingham to be promoted.

When the premier league came up
With the 39th game idea I actually thought it would be ok. As long as they’re not losing a home game. But now, unfortunately the games would be like a home game for the global mega clubs like City, Arsenal etc.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 07, 2025 10:04 am

Out of interest, why on earth have they moved it to Perth?

Is there a large Italian population there, or great interest that means it would be popular with local football fans?

There is a huge Italian heritage population in WA….

Explanation from UEFA

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/02 ... tches-pla/

Interesting bit on Sky Sports last night where one of the main journalists (Kaveh Solhekol?) was discussing this.

He said he’s been in countless EPL meetings where this idea has been instantly dismissed as ‘not going to happen here’. La Liga and Serie A are doing this precisely (but not officially) because those leagues have nothing like the global reach or presence of the EPL and are after a shop window that the EPL simply doesn’t need.

Obviously that’s not to say that’ll always be the case, but it doesn’t appear to be imminent.

It seems this is due to Relevant Sports the US sports promoter winning a recent court case with FIFA, coupled with FIFA regulations not being strong enough, so UEFA felt they had to back down rather than have a ‘legal’ precedent set in court that would open floodgates.

Unfortunately in my mind I would feel it is akin to a US sports franchise hopping around the country despite local fans having bought into the team over a long period. It quite simply, and literally, would not be Burnley any more if it happened to us, and then, as they say in Dragon’s Den, “I’m Out”.

Enola Gay wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 07, 2025 11:30 am

Interesting bit on Sky Sports last night where one of the main journalists (Kaveh Solhekol?) was discussing this.

He said he’s been in countless EPL meetings where this idea has been instantly dismissed as ‘not going to happen here’. La Liga and Serie A are doing this precisely (but not officially) because those leagues have nothing like the global reach or presence of the EPL and are after a shop window that the EPL simply doesn’t need.

Obviously that’s not to say that’ll always be the case, but it doesn’t appear to be imminent.

Is fan reaction in Europe anything like what we saw in this country when the Super League was being discussed a few years ago, when supporters of the biggest clubs started to protest outside their own grounds, with the idea being quickly dismissed due to that hostility?

Spijed wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 07, 2025 11:43 am

Is fan reaction in Europe anything like what we saw in this country when the Super League was being discussed a few years ago, when supporters of the biggest clubs started to protest outside their own grounds, with the idea being quickly dismissed due to that hostility?

Yes it is and when the Super League reared its head it was during the behind closed doors season. The success there was the supporters groups of those clubs working together with no protests outside the grounds.

Pace'll be rubbing his hands. But don't worry, if you can't make it to Salt Lake City then you'll be able to watch it in virtual reality. Prices start at just $150 for members.

Im not an expert in case law. But this looks like the absolute definition of setting a precedent.

Grim.

"UEFA have reluctantly approved this but say it does not set any precedent." LOL

Spijed wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 07, 2025 10:04 am

Out of interest, why on earth have they moved it to Perth?

Is there a large Italian population there, or great interest that means it would be popular with local football fans?

The did a pre-season game this year there so this idea of moving the game there was clearly already in the pipeline / an idea when they were organising their schedule last season.

It's a farce and a con, and didn't need to happen. The dates for the Winter Olympics and the ceremony will have been pencilled many moons ago so they knew before the season started which dates the stadium couldn't be used. Like when stadiums are getting work done early season then club plays a couple of away games first up before the ground is ready. The fixture list could easily have been set up for them to be away for a few games so as to not clash with Inter games. Are Inter not flying away somewhere as well?

Couldn't they simply switch venue ?

CrosspoolClarets wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 07, 2025 11:33 am

It seems this is due to Relevant Sports the US sports promoter winning a recent court case with FIFA, coupled with FIFA regulations not being strong enough, so UEFA felt they had to back down rather than have a ‘legal’ precedent set in court that would open floodgates.

Unfortunately in my mind I would feel it is akin to a US sports franchise hopping around the country despite local fans having bought into the team over a long period. It quite simply, and literally, would not be Burnley any more if it happened to us, and then, as they say in Dragon’s Den, “I’m Out”.

the events for which have all been documented for several years on the MMT

This is indeed part of a select vision of some (not all) US owners and as aggi has pointed out the owner of Birmingham City is very much one to fear, for the changes he will want to introduce, should he stabilise his club in the Premier League