Supporters say no to domestic games abroad

News below from our friends at Football Supporters Europe (FSE). The FSA backs their opposition to competitive domestic games being played overseas. Read more from FSE…

Last week, FSE, the Independent Supporters Council (ISC), Football Supporters Association Australia (FSA Australia), and FASFE – Accionistas y Socios del Fútbol Español have written to FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström expressing our strong opposition to proposals that would see competitive domestic league matches staged abroad.

The letter highlighted serious concerns with recent plans by La Liga and Serie A to relocate fixtures to the United States and Australia, warning that such moves would:

• Undermine sporting integrity by disrupting the home-and-away balance of league competitions.
• Place commercial interests above sporting values, reducing clubs to entertainment products detached from their tradition and communities.
• Alienate local supporters and erode the cultural identity of football clubs in the destinations of exported matches.
• Generate significant environmental and logistical burdens through long-haul travel.

These proposals directly contradict Articles 3 and 6 of FIFA’s own Regulations Governing International Matches, which require official domestic competitions to be played within their national association’s territory.

We are calling on FIFA to:

• Uphold and enforce these regulations.
• Reject any attempts to relocate domestic fixtures abroad.
• Safeguard the community, cultural, and sporting foundations of football worldwide.

Ronan Evain, executive director of FSE, said: “Relocating domestic league matches abroad would set a dangerous precedent, stripping clubs of their roots and undermining the trust of supporters. FIFA must take a clear stand to protect the integrity and identity of domestic football.

“Those behind the proposals claim they are only interested in a one-off event, a claim we reject. If permitted, this would open a Pandora’s box of disarray for football. Short-sighted commercial interests cannot take precedent over protecting domestic football and the communities our clubs grew out of.”

We reaffirm our commitment to constructive dialogue with FIFA, UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC, and other relevant stakeholders, with the shared goal of safeguarding the long-term integrity, community roots, and identity of football worldwide.

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