La league and the Series A Plan regular league games abroad. Fans from numerous countries are now mobilizing a joint protest and warning of the games by the associations “irreversible consequences“.
The plans of the leagues from Spain and Italy “represent a direct attack on the nature of football”According to an explanation that has so far signed more than 400 fan groups from at least 25 countries. “Football clubs are neither entertainment companies nor hiking circuses. They exist for the benefit of the people on site and offer a feeling of belonging – especially where fans have been visiting home games in their own stadium for generations.” The fans demand: “Don’t take the game away!”
Among the signatories of the explanation are also fan groups of German clubs, including from European Cup participants such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt or SC Freiburg, plus the Germany -wide alliance “Our curve” and fishing groups of several clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga.
Villarreal – Barcelona is said to take place in Miami, Milan wants to go to Australia
The trouble is directed against plans of the Spanish league, among other things, to move the game between FC Villarreal and FC Barcelona to Miami in the USA on December 20. In contrast, there was already criticism from fans and the player union in Spain. In Italy also said Ezio SimonelliPresident of Serie A, in an interview with the “Corriere della sera“That he “would have liked to have played throughout the first matchday abroad” And even there is already a proposal from the USA.
Ezio Simonelli, President of Series A
Because also on February 6, 2026 in Giuseppe-Mazza-Stadion in Milan The Winter Olympics will be opened, the game set on the 24th matchday of Serie A between AC Milan and Como In 1907 looking for an alternative date or an alternative stadium: the choice fell to Perth in Australia, 14,000 kilometers away. Both leagues refer to the necessary economic development. Professional football in general is currently hoping for growth opportunities from the market in the United States.
The Optus Stadium in the Australian Perth
At a request from the sports show to what extent the DFL is considering, to move games of the federal leagues or the Supercup from Germany abroad, the league association replied: “There are no considerations to carry out competitive games abroad.”
UEFA Executive Committee must decide soon
In addition to the national associations involved, the European Football Association UEFA would also have to agree to the plans. The UEFA Executive Committee, in which DFB Vice President Hans-Joachim Watzke is also entitled to vote in his further function as UEFA Vice President, will soon have to deal with the question.
Borussia Dortmund’s managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke is also a UEFA Vice President.
Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin recently told the politico portal: “I don’t think that’s a good thing. If there is an exception, good. If there is a reason. But basically European teams should play in Europe.”
At the same time, Cefan said that UEFA has limited opportunities if the national associations agree – and that was the case in Italy and Spain. “But I think we have to discuss this very seriously in the future. The fans should look at football at home. They cannot travel to Australia or the USA to see their teams”said Ceferin, who, however Champions League-ENDPLAME in the USA said: “That is possible.”
Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin
Fan-Appell: Approval of the plans “Open the pandora box”
In their explanation, the fan groups clearly face such plans. “Approval of these projects would immediately open the Pandora’s box with unpredictable and irreversible consequences”is a fear in the letter.
“Fan scenes worldwide would be exposed to the risk of taking away their favorite team and being shipped to the other end of the world for a game or even several games.” The UEFA, the FIFA and all national associations are asked to reject the plans of the leagues.
Home of FC Villarreal: The Estadio de la Cerámica
EU policy puts pressure: games should stay where they are
Fans find advocates in their concerns in European politics. The European institutions stood the UEFA 2021 and then in the Super League-Cris supporting to the side to “European sports model” to protect.
The Social Democrat Glenn Micallef from Malta has been EU commissioner for generation justice, youth, culture and sport since 2024. He was disappointed with the plans and is solidarity at the side of the fans. European games would have to be played in Europe.
EU sports commissioner Glenn Micallef
“This is the first major stress test for the association management since the Super League”Micallef also said with a view to the UEFA. “Strong, communal associations are the heart of the European sports model. The relocation of competitions abroad is not an innovation, but betrayal.”
FIFA opened the door under legal pressure
Basically, the question of a anti -antitrust law of the sports marketing agency came up relevant when a game between Miami in 2019 Girona and Barcelona was blocked by the associations. However, the judgment of the European Court of Justice for the Super League restricted the associations in regulating clubs and leagues in their business areas.
FIFA therefore founded a working group for reforming their regulations outside the responsible association areas. One result is still pending, FIFA and relevant the legal dispute.