After weeks of uncertainty and wild speculation, the Milan-Como match will finally be played at San Siro, bringing common sense back to the forefront of football debate and reassuring fans of a fundamental connection with the local area.
The curtain falls on the Milan-Como soap opera. After weeks of speculation, denials, and twists, the Serie A match will not be played in Australia. The idea of moving the match to Perth, which gradually turned into a grotesque affair, has been definitively shelved. Milan-Como will be played at the San Siro, with a date yet to be added to the calendar.
The match was originally scheduled for February 8th at the Meazza Stadium, but the venue will be occupied by the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Olympics, scheduled for February 6th. This prompted the proposal to move the match abroad, rather than opting for more straightforward solutions such as reversing the venue. This decision immediately raised concerns, given the extreme logistics, intercontinental travel, time zones, and prohibitive temperatures.
The Codici Association: "Common sense has won, but..."
Criticism had also come from the key players. Coaches and players had made no secret of their discomfort with a trip they openly described as "crazy," while organizationally, negotiations had become bogged down by increasingly complex issues, starting with refereeing and the demands of local federations.
The about-face came late Monday afternoon, marking the return of the match to its original setting. The Codici association, which had opposed the move from the outset, commented on the decision. "In the end, common sense prevailed, even if it shouldn't have come to this," the association stated, citing fans' rights finally protected after weeks of uncertainty.
Codici's Lombardy regional secretary, Davide Zanon, agrees, emphasizing that such a choice should have considered not only commercial considerations, but also respect for the public, sustainable travel, and the value of the region, especially at a time when Milan and Italy will be at the center of global attention for the Olympics.
The reason for the “last-minute” cancellation
The cancellation of the Australian trip was made official in a joint statement from the Lega Serie A and the Western Australian government. "Plans to host the first official European championship match outside of Australia in Perth have been cancelled due to unavoidable financial risks, onerous approval requirements, and last-minute complications," the statement read.
With the Perth option now firmly shelved, the date for the match remains to be determined. The match cannot be played before February 8th and must be played during a midweek fixture. The most likely scenario is mid-February, barring any complications related to Inter's European fixtures at San Siro. For AC Milan, who are not involved in the competition, there are no issues.
Thus ends a story that leaves behind a trail of doubts and questions, but also a clear message: football can go far, but not to the point of losing touch with those who experience it every week from the stands.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (2)
It was nonsense!!!
The decision to play at San Siro instead of Australia is a good one for the fans, but it remains to be seen how this complicated situation came about. I hope that such hesitations can be avoided in the future.