Scaroni lifts lid on Milan’s Australia game stance: “The profit is very small”

AC Milan are set to play against Como in Australia next year, and money has been discussed as a factor. However, there may not be much profit there.

The decision to take Milan-Como abroad has been a really difficult one for the FIGC. Initially, it seemed they were behind the idea, but now they are facing pressure to change the decision, especially after La Liga did.

Nevertheless, the game still does not have the green light, with further confirmation still needed.

Internationalise mission

Yesterday, Paolo Scaroni discussed several topics, and included was the issues of the game down under, which seems may not be as lucrative as may have been imagined.

How much of an impact can playing in Australia have?

“It’s not that we’re going to Perth, if we’re going at all, for economic reasons. The profit from this operation is very small, a few million, and it doesn’t change our financial results. We’re going there to internationalise Serie A,” as MilanNews relays.

“If you ask me what Serie A’s biggest problem is, I’d say it’s the sale of TV rights outside of Italy. Serie A sells them for €200 million, the Premier League for €2 billion. How can we gain ground in this area? It could also be doing these operations, like going to play in Perth, which has a large Italian-Australian community: we think it could promote AC Milan in Australia.

“That’s the reason, not because we earn €1 or €2 million more. And that’s the reason why our Serie A colleagues have given the green light.”

Of course, long-term, it may help more with marketing the league abroad. For a few million, though, it does not really seem like it may be worth it. Especially given the backlash that may come from this decision moving forward.