Origin: Event Relocation and the Emergence of Globalization Overseas Match Conception
Due to the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics occupying the San Siro Stadium, the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como originally scheduled for February 8, 2026, needed to find an alternative venue, and the idea of an “overseas match” emerged and gained responses from various parties. Plagued by the declining overseas influence, the Serie A League had previously established overseas offices in New York and Dubai, seeing going overseas as a key to breaking the deadlock; as foreign-funded teams, AC Milan and Como were also eager to expand their commercial value through the event.
This 12 million euro overseas match, after deducting 3-4 million euros in organizational costs, the remaining proceeds would be shared among all teams, with AC Milan getting the largest share. This profit distribution model won the support of all teams, except Inter Milan, which refused the early invitation to participate due to a tight schedule.
Perth ultimately became the venue, thanks to AC Milan holding friendly matches here for two consecutive years and establishing a fan club, as well as the active cooperation of the Western Australian Government, which hoped to enhance regional influence through the event.
Game Theory: Multiple Controversies and Obstacles in the Advancement of Globalization Events
During the promotion of the event, controversies and obstacles emerged one after another. Players and coaches generally opposed it. Milan captain Mike Maignan complained that the event ignored the significance of the game and the players’ goals, Adrien Rabiot bluntly said that the intercontinental match was absurd and harmful to players’ health, while the two teams’ coaches Massimiliano Allegri and Cesc Fàbregas were worried about affecting competitive preparation.
Fan protests were even more intense. Como fans displayed satirical banners at their home court and were fined for replacing the euro symbol.
There were numerous obstacles in the approval process. Although UEFA approved it as an exception, it emphasized that it was only a special case, but the Serie A League intended to take it as a regular commercial plan. More harshly, the event had to abandon the promotion in the name of Serie A and use AFC referees, which violated the Italian Football Association’s rules on referee appointment. FIFA also clearly opposed intercontinental leagues, pointing out their high-risk nature, and a series of subsequent unacceptable additional requirements from the AFC became the last straw that crushed the event.
Ending: The Collapse of Globalization Attempts and Reflection on Returning to Rationality
On the afternoon of December 22 local time, the Serie A League and the Western Australian Government jointly announced the cancellation of the event, citing financial risks, strict approval and uncontrollable complex situations. Serie A League CEO Luigi De Siervo once confidently confirmed the holding of the event, but finally had to complain about advancing the overseas venture “with humility”.
The core crux of this fiasco lies in the inappropriate venue selection. As the “loneliest” major city in the world, Perth is more than 13,000 kilometers away from Italy, with a niche football culture, far from an ideal choice to get close to fans. At present, the event is likely to be postponed to February 17 and held in Italy.
Although the 12 million euro revenue was lost and Serie A’s globalization vision was temporarily shattered, the players’ health, the fairness of the league and the fans’ viewing experience were guaranteed. This overseas fiasco also sounded an alarm for Serie A: a globalization concept divorced from reality will ultimately inevitably end up from wishful thinking to a mess.
Summarize：
Due to San Siro’s occupation, Serie A planned an overseas match between AC Milan and Como in Perth to boost influence and profits. However, it faced strong opposition from players, coaches and fans, as well as approval hurdles from multiple football authorities. Eventually, the event was canceled due to various uncontrollable factors. The fiasco stemmed from inappropriate venue selection, sounding an alarm for Serie A’s unrealistic globalization attempt.
