The Guardian’s view on Milan playing a ‘home’ game in Perth: The clue must be in the name | Editorial

FFootball clubs are community assets, with value, history and meaning that cannot be captured on a balance sheet. They belong to the cities and towns that have supported them over the decades. For the vast majority of fans, the sense of identity and rituals of conformity associated with following their team are as important as the occasional trophy or glorious victory.

However, maintaining this culture becomes more difficult if your club’s next match is taking place 5,000 miles away. The European Football Association, UEFA, this week Announce It would allow a La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona to be held in a location closer to Cuba than Catalonia, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. This will be followed, in February, transfer To Australia for the Italian League match between Milan and Como. The promoters of global sports, wringing their hands at the potential profits this precedent could bring, are just turning their nose up at the bullshit. Supporter organizations in Spain and Italy are much smaller a fan.

It’s not hard to see why. The clue as to where Milan should play its home matches is in the name. On a purely sporting level, regularly playing matches on the other side of the world would undermine the fairness of leagues based on the equal distribution of home advantage. While fans outside Europe may be able to see their heroes play in meaningful competitions in this way, the money spent on organizing them could be far better invested in promoting domestic competitions such as MLS.

Sadly, in an age where the hyper-monetisation of elite football has already reached an advanced stage, the Serie A match in Perth feels like the thin end of a very large wedge of money. UEFA’s reluctant statement comes after an out-of-court settlement of a lawsuit brought by an American sports promoter, who claimed that restrictions on where teams play their matches were unlawful. For European clubs desperate to compete with the financial heft of their Premier League rivals, the riches promised by freer access to global markets constitute a tempting invitation to sell their soul.

As profit-hungry football overlords look for more creative ways to make a quick buck, the traditional fan is the last person on their minds. Spain and Italy have already sold their annual Super Cup matches to Saudi Arabia, which promotes the sport, while the cost of tickets for the 2026 World Cup is likely to rise thanks to the use of… Dynamic ticket pricing. In Britain, the number of one-off visitors paying hospitality prices at elite matches is increasing, as younger and less affluent fans are priced out.

A line must be drawn. We should not be hopping valuable local institutions around the world in search of the highest bidder. One time though Flirt With the idea of ​​holding an additional round of matches outside England, the English Premier League has distanced itself from the idea for the time being. UEFA executives, caught off guard by the latest developments, did just that pledge To ensure the rules are updated in order to “maintain the integrity of local competitions, and the close connection between clubs, their supporters and local communities”.

Long-suffering supporters must stick to their word. The challenge of “playing away” is part and parcel of football. But it should never be necessary to book an intercontinental flight to attend a local league game.

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