FIFA proposal to revolutionise domestic football as 'international' games get green light

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Martin Macdonald | Writer

Content writer covering football, formula 1 and movies

Leagues around the world will be permitted to hold one match abroad under controversial new FIFA rulings.

The proposals have been in the works for two years and the hosting countries will be limited to holding five "international" matches per season.

This topic has been in the headlines this season as Barcelona and Villarreal were scheduled to play a La Liga match in Miami, while Milan versus Como was a Serie A fixture that was going to take place in Perth, Australia.

After a hugely negative reaction from fans and rivals clubs, both games took place - but not on foreign soil.

If a domestic match was to take place abroad, the home and away balance fixture list of the league would have been skewed. For example, the aforementioned La Liga fixture was actually Villarreal's home match, but there undoubtedly would have been more Barcelona fans in attendance in Miami.

In the opinion of other Spanish clubs - Real Madrid in particular - this gave the Blaugrana an unfair sporting advantage.

Both clubs were set to receive around €6 million, though the Yellow Submarine would have been compensated for a loss in ticket revenue as it was their home fixture.

Though the protests from fans and rival clubs ultimately led to that game being cancelled. La Liga’s American promoter, Relevent Sports, also got cold feet.

Under the new proposals, all stakeholders need to agree on a fixture taking place abroad and FIFA will retain the right to veto any of these proposals.

Plans will need to be accepted by the national association of the clubs involved, their confederation, the football association of the country planning to host the game and its confederation.

Crucially, domestic leagues do not have to be consulted. Theoretically, the Premier League does not have to sanction the plan for it to happen, but it is unlikely the English FA would press ahead with plans without the league's blessing.

The relationship between the Premier League and FA is not as harmonious in other countries, however.

When the topics of Barcelona versus Villarreal and Milan versus Como were raised this season, UEFA expressed their concerns but ultimately passed the buck to FIFA on the final decisions.

FIFA could intervene in a particular proposal if it is seen to be detrimental to player health due to excess travel or if it will grossly impact the competitive structure of a league season.

This could happen as early as next season but football authorities will need to overcome an expected negative response from football fans and players alike.

Barcelona, Villarreal, Milan and Como players all spoke out against the plans for abroad fixtures earlier this season.

The Premier League has continually said it has no plans to play matches on foreign soil, but it is believed the raft of American owners of clubs in England are pushing for games in the United States.

La Liga boss comes out swinging

La Liga president Javier Tebas, who has been championing the plans from the start, hit back at the cancellation of Barcelona vs Villarreal and believes it will impact the growth of Spanish football. He wrote on X:

“Today, Spanish football has lost an opportunity to advance, project itself globally, and strengthen its future.

“The defence of ‘tradition’ is invoked from a narrow-minded and provincial perspective, while the true traditions of European football are threatened by decisions by the governing institutions, which year after year destroy national leagues, the true driving force of the European football industry, amid the naivety and passivity of European leaders who fail to distinguish the inconsequential from the essential.

“The ‘integrity of the competition’ is invoked by those who have been questioning that same integrity for years, pressuring referees and leaders, constructing distorted narratives, or using political and media pressure as a sporting tool.

“I want to thank Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona for their commitment and generosity in being part of a project that only sought the growth of our competition. They weren’t thinking about themselves, they were thinking about everyone.

“LaLiga will continue working, with rigour and conviction, to keep Spanish football competitive, standing up to those who seek to destroy it, but always respecting its roots and ensuring its sustainability.

“Spanish football deserves to look to the future with ambition, not fear. We will keep trying. This time, we came very close.”

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