Lega Serie A Responds To Commissioner Glenn Micallef’s Critique

Lega Serie A has hit back strongly at comments from European Commissioner Glenn Micallef, who earlier this week criticised proposals to take domestic league matches abroad.

Speaking at the EU Sport Forum in Krakow, Micallef argued that European football should remain in Europe, describing plans to stage fixtures in countries such as the United States and Australia as a betrayal of supporters and local communities.

He warned that moving matches overseas risks sidelining fans who form the backbone of clubs’ success.

Serie A has taken issue with that view, issuing a statement that described Micallef’s remarks as excessive and short sighted.

The league argued that exporting one fixture, out of 380 played in a season, hardly constitutes a betrayal but rather an opportunity to promote Italian football to new audiences.

It pointed to the example of the NBA and NFL, both of which regularly stage games in Europe in order to build international visibility.

In its defence, Serie A said that playing abroad is not about abandoning local traditions but about strengthening the overall competitiveness of Italian football.

The league stressed that the revenue generated by such initiatives would ultimately benefit the wider football system, including investment in youth and amateur levels.

While acknowledging the sacrifice asked of the home supporters of Milan and Como, Serie A insisted that increased exposure could bring long term benefits for both clubs and Italian football as a whole.

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