Serie A chief executive Luigi de Siervo has hit back at Adrien Rabiot after the AC Milan midfielder criticised plans for league matches to be staged abroad, saying players should “respect their employer”.
Milan are set to face Como in Perth, Australia in February, one of two top-flight European matches approved to take place overseas. Spain’s Villarreal and Barcelona will also meet in Miami in December under a similar arrangement.
Rabiot had labelled the decision “completely crazy” and “really absurd” in an interview with Le Figaro, arguing that such travel compromises player health.
“It’s crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia,” the French international said. “There’s a lot of talk about player welfare, but we always have to adapt.”
Responding during a Serie A assembly meeting in Rome, De Siervo said that while Rabiot had a point, he should also remember his professional obligations.
“He’s right, but Rabiot forgets that players who earn millions are paid to play football,” De Siervo said. “He should respect the money he earns and the decisions of his employer, Milan, who agreed to play this match abroad.”
UEFA confirmed this week that it had “reluctantly” approved the two fixtures but warned that moving domestic matches overseas could “break football”.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the sport risked losing its roots.
“Football is not just about balance sheets or entertainment,” Ceferin told club executives in Rome. “If we pull it too far from our communities, we risk breaking it.”
UEFA said it found “widespread lack of support” for the idea among clubs, fans and institutions but conceded that FIFA’s rules were too vague to block the plans outright.
Ceferin also reaffirmed UEFA’s stance against a European Super League, insisting the governing body “will never organise a competition for 12 clubs only” and will continue to “keep football inclusive”.
