FIFA is reviewing its regulations on domestic league games played overseas and is seeking legal advice on potentially banning them outright, following UEFA’s approval of LaLiga and Serie A fixtures abroad.
The governing body is preparing a stronger rulebook for early next year, after frustration that its existing 2014 framework does not give it the power to stop such matches once all parties agree.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
UEFA reluctantly approved two fixtures Villarreal v Barcelona in Miami and AC Milan v Como in Perth blaming “loopholes” in FIFA’s outdated rules.
In a statement, UEFA said: “Given that the relevant FIFA regulatory framework currently under review – is not clear and detailed enough, the UEFA executive committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it.”
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin stressed the decision would not set a precedent, saying league matches “should be played on home soil” to protect fans and preserve competition integrity.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
The final approval now rests with the US Soccer Federation and Football Australia, along with Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation. US Soccer’s stance remains uncertain amid fears hosting European league matches could harm Major League Soccer commercially.
The debate comes as clubs chase international revenue, with the Premier League earning £5.3 billion from global broadcast rights for 2022–2025 more than any other major league combined.
Premier League chief Richard Masters recently said he expects the sport’s global model to evolve further but hopes English football “retains its history and traditions” while staying “the envy of the world.”