Following widespread backlash from players and fans in Spain, La Liga announced on Tuesday that it had scrapped plans for Villarreal to face Barcelona in a regular-season fixture in the United States.

The decision has intensified calls for Serie A to reconsider its own overseas plans. In a statement on Wednesday, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) said:

“This is a seismic victory for European football and everyone who believes the game belongs at the heart of our communities — now it’s time for Serie A to drop its plans too. Serie A must do the right thing in the face of growing isolation. The position of players and supporters in Italy is crystal clear: doubling down on this failed idea would damage the league’s reputation, Italian football, and the game as a whole. The game has no place 15,000 kilometres away from its home.”

Serie A did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

Milan has already received “reluctant” permission from UEFA to host a February fixture against Como at Perth Stadium, as the San Siro is unavailable due to the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. The match still requires approval from Football Australia, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and FIFA.

While European clubs often travel abroad for pre-season friendlies, the Milan-Como fixture would mark the first Serie A match played outside Italy.

French midfielder Adrien Rabiot previously described the move as “crazy” and “absurd,” though Serie A Chief Executive Luigi De Siervo dismissed concerns, urging players to respect their salaries and employers.

“The NFL and NBA have been playing abroad for years as global products,” De Siervo said.
“We believe this can be a model for football, with precise rules, if it is not to lose out to other sports.”

Meanwhile, officials in Western Australia remain confident the game will proceed despite criticism.
“We’ve had very supportive comments overnight from the Italian league, so we’re very confident,” WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told ABC.
“We’re waiting for the Asian Football Confederation to sanction. Basically, every ten minutes I’m checking my phone — it should happen in the next few days.”