FIFA president Gianni Infantino has warned that football is taking a “big risk” by allowing domestic league matches to be played overseas. His comments come after LaLiga and Serie A received reluctant approval from UEFA to host one league match each abroad this season.
As part of the plan, Villarreal and Barcelona are expected to clash in Miami this December, while AC Milan and Como are set to meet in Perth, Australia, in February. The final decision now rests with FIFA and the respective continental bodies, including CONCACAF and the AFC.
Infantino, speaking at the European Football Clubs (EFC) General Assembly in Rome, expressed his concerns about disrupting football’s traditional structure.
“We have a structure whereby we have games at national level, at continental level, and then at global level,” he said.
“And this is a structure that made football the number one sport in the world. If we want to break this structure, we take a big risk.
“Do we want everyone to play everywhere and do whatever he wants? Or do we want a regulated system that takes into account the interests of everyone at national, continental, and club levels?”
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen made it clear his club has no intention of following suit.
“I do have a clear idea where to play our obliged league matches, and this is at home, because we play for the fans,” he revealed.
“Yes we want to expand, but we can expand with these big new international club competitions. I think this should be our ideal.”
Infantino’s remarks underline a growing debate within world football, balancing global growth with preserving the integrity and tradition that make domestic leagues so special.
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