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UEFA has reaffirmed its stance against domestic league matches being played overseas, following controversial remarks previously made by Liverpool chairman Tom Werner. Aleksander Ceferin, the President of UEFA, cautioned that playing abroad would "disenfranchise loyal match-going fans".
Werner has in the past expressed his determination to see Premier League matches played in New York, as well as relocating fixtures to various parts of the globe. Both Italy and Spain's football federations have revealed plans to host matches in Australia and the United States, which would involve AC Milan playing Como in Australia and Barcelona taking on Villarreal in Miami.
UEFA's announcement on Monday granted permission for the respective Serie A and La Liga matches to be played overseas but labelled the decision as "regrettable". Ceferin issued a stark warning to supporters.
"League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions," he stated. "Our consultation confirmed the breadth of these concerns.
"I would like to thank the 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible engagement on such a sensitive issue.
"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.
"Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment."
UEFA stated in its announcement: "UEFA has today reiterated its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country.
"After the meeting of its Executive Committee in Tirana last month, UEFA undertook further consultations with stakeholders to assess the extent of the implications of the issue, following the applications it received from the Spanish and Italian national football associations.
"That consultation confirmed the widespread lack of support that had already been raised by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions around the concept of domestic league matches being relocated abroad.
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"However, given that the relevant FIFA regulatory framework – currently under review – is not clear and detailed enough, the UEFA Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it.
"UEFA will actively contribute to the ongoing work led by FIFA to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close bond between clubs, their supporters and local communities.
"In parallel, all UEFA national associations confirmed their commitment to engage with UEFA before submitting any future requests. In doing so, they voiced their collective determination to safeguard the wider interests of European football."
Werner, who took over as Liverpool chairman in 2010, has overseen the Reds' transformation from a mid-table side to English champions. However, his suggestion to host Premier League matches abroad was met with criticism, and Liverpool's principal owner, John W. Henry, distanced himself from the idea.
In a 2024 interview with the Financial Times, Werner stated: "I'm determined one day to have a Premier League game be played in New York City.
"I even have the sort of crazy idea that there would be a day where we play one game in Tokyo, one game a few hours later in Los Angeles, one game a few hours later in Rio, one game a few hours later in Riyadh and make it sort of a day where football, where the Premier League, is celebrated."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.
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