UEFA Doesn't Like Barcelona-Villarreal Match in Miami But Will Allow It

UEFA will reluctantly not oppose the tradition-busting plans for Barcelona to play a league game in Miami and for AC Milan to feature in Australia, the European soccer body said on Monday.

Amid fierce opposition from fan groups across the continent, UEFA consent was a key step for La Liga’s plan to stage Villarreal vs. Barcelona in Miami on Dec. 20 and Serie A’s AC Milan vs. Como in Perth in February.

UEFA blamed a lack of clear rules from world soccer body FIFA to block the proposed games, which many fans see as a threat to cut teams’ ties to their home communities.

"While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent," UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.

UEFA said it will "actively contribute to the ongoing work led by FIFA to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close bond between clubs, their supporters and local communities."

The Football Supporters Europe network of fan groups said it will continue working to stop the games abroad going ahead, which it believes also unbalances the sporting integrity of domestic leagues.

"By forcing through these matches, La Liga and Serie A risk undermining their own history and long-term success while inflicting long-lasting harm to football in Europe — and beyond," said FSE, which is recognized by UEFA as its official liaison partner on fan issues.

The Spanish and Italian leagues were long seen as most likely to push for so-called "out of territory" games, as they seek to counter the global popularity and financial power of England's Premier League.

La Liga and its American commercial partner Relevent, an agency co-founded by Miami