De Siervo: ‘Serie A game in Australia is innovative project’

Lega Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo insists playing AC Milan vs. Parma in Australia would be ‘an innovative project, and a small sacrifice for great long-term benefits.’

The plan has been given approval by UEFA, while they are still waiting for the final details to be organised with the Australian authorities.

It would be the first time ever that a Serie A match has been played outside of Italy, set for February 2026 as San Siro is being used for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

De Siervo was attending the Gran Gala del Calcio awards in Milan this evening and was asked if that Milan-Parma in Perth was going ahead.

“We hope so! It is an innovative project, which some have understood and others have not,” said De Siervo on Sky Sport Italia.

“It means making a small sacrifice for great medium to long-term benefits. We are working on the final authorisations, we still need FIFA to give the OK.”

If San Siro was out of action, was it necessary to go all the way to Australia to play this Serie A fixture?

“We mustn’t only look at the short-term, let us not forget that on the other side of the world there is a country with a huge Italian immigrant population that continues to have passion for our football.”

Milan are currently joint top of the table with Napoli, while Inter and Roma are only one point behind them.

“It is a fantastic league, everyone is up there, the top places are constantly switching around. We expect it to be close all the way to the final round, and hope this battle continues.”