AC Milan in WA: Visiting coach gives thumbs-up to proposed Serie A game featuring Italian giants in Perth

West Australian

3 days ago

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri says he would be proud to be part of a proposed world-first Serie A game featuring the Italian giants in Perth.
It came as the State Government vowed to continue aggressively pursuing high-profile matches to reinforce Perth's reputation as a destination for major sporting events.
Seven-time European champions Milan, one of the world's biggest sporting clubs, will play a friendly against Perth Glory at HBF Park.
But Thursday night's match will be played against a backdrop of intrigue surrounding a proposal which would see Perth host a historic game which could have global ramifications for the sport.
Earlier this month, the Italian Football Federation approved a request by the league for Milan's Serie A clash with Como to be played in Perth in February.
With Milan's famed San Siro Stadium out of action for a month early next year as it gets ready to host the 2026 Winter Olympic opening ceremony, the club has had to look elsewhere for a venue — and Optus Stadium could be their destination.
If the match goes ahead, it will mark the first time a major European league has played a competitive league game on foreign soil.
Speaking via an interpreter, Allegri, who is set for his first season back with the club he won Serie A with in 2011, said he would be thrilled to be part of such an event.
'I'd be very proud, if all the other sanctioning comes through and to be a part of such a historic event, it will change the landscape of world football,' he said.
However, the plan still requires layers of approvals from numerous parties, including world governing body FIFA, European governing body UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Football Australia.
'This is still something very much a work in progress, but the aspiration to have such a game is very much something we're pursuing,' said deputy premier Rita Saffioti.
'There are a number of hurdles, and that includes of course, a tick off from many organisations. We have a very big aspiration, it would be the first time in the world, but there's a lot of hurdles.
'I'm very much working with everyone involved, how we can do our best to give it our best shot, but it's a work in progress.
If Perth's proposed Serie A game is greenlit by the necessary authorities, it could open the floodgates for rival leagues to investigate playing matches abroad.
FIFA has previously been against the idea of allowing clubs to move league fixtures internationally, but last year created a working group to review its policy about domestic games abroad.
Spain's La Liga publicly floated the idea of playing a match between heavyweights Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Miami in 2024, before delaying their plan and promising to revisit it.
The Supercoppa Italiana, an annual cup tournament involving the previous season's Serie A and Coppa Italia winners and runners-up, currently takes place in Saudi Arabia.
If approved, the proposed Serie A match in Perth would mark AC Milan's third visit to WA in less than 18 months, following their post-season friendly against fellow Italian giants AS Roma last May.
The clash with Roma drew 56,522 fans to Optus Stadium, but importantly also allowed the State Government to establish a strong relationship with Milan.
'They really enjoyed their time here last year, and in particular, their ability to move around and see parts of our city in a safe way,' Saffioti said.
'Sometimes we undersell what we have in Western Australia; they're staying here in this incredible hotel (Crown Towers), they can basically walk around the river in a very safe way.
'Their training facility is just 15 minutes away and Sam Kerr (Football) Centre is one of the newest football centres in the nation.
'Getting to HBF Park is not a long way away. It's another 10-15 minutes, we offer some really good benefits...we have a lot of really great sporting infrastructure,'' she said.