The proposed Serie A fixture in Perth is still under consideration and has not been abandoned, despite stringent conditions set by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Serie A President Ezio Simonelli said on Friday.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) approved Serie A’s request to move February’s match between AC Milan and Como, following San Siro’s unavailability due to the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

UEFA had previously granted tentative approval in October, in a decision that also included LaLiga’s plan to stage a match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami—a game later canceled due to strong domestic opposition.

Recent reports in Italy suggested the Perth fixture, which would mark the first major European domestic league match held outside its home country, was unlikely to proceed.

“I’ve read things in recent days that aren’t correct,” Simonelli told reporters. “It’s not an idea that has been abandoned, but one that is still in progress. We’ve received many favourable opinions.”

He explained that the AFC was the only body that had not given full approval, instead imposing two requirements: the match could not be organised, promoted, or marketed by Serie A, and the AFC would appoint the match officials.

“That’s why we asked FIFA to give a final answer,” Simonelli said. “We don’t consider those conditions acceptable—not because we don’t want to accept them, but because it’s impossible to play an Italian league match without defining it as such. Just as it’s impossible to go to Australia without Italian referees.”

Simonelli pointed out that Italian referees will oversee the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia next week, also under AFC jurisdiction.

“Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding,” he said. “If it is, we consider those conditions non-existent and take it as a favourable opinion.”

The Serie A president added that he plans to meet FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Doha on December 17 to seek a resolution. Serie A has not prepared alternative plans and continues to work toward staging the match in Perth on February 8.

“If FIFA says the match cannot take place, we’ll accept that,” Simonelli said. “I’m not making predictions. I’m simply saying that the process is still ongoing.”