Serie A chief executive Luigi de Siervo has sharply criticized AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot after the player called the league’s plan to play a match in Australia “completely crazy” and “truly absurd.”
Milan is set to play Como in Perth, Australia, in February as part of a move to globalize domestic football, which Rabiot argued ignores player health.
At a meeting in Rome, De Siervo acknowledged Rabiot’s view but fired back, stating the high-earning player should “respect his employer” and the money he earns by “complying with the wishes” of Milan, which pushed for the match.
The controversy comes as UEFA reluctantly approved the Australia fixture and another overseas match for La Liga.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin warned that moving league games abroad risks “breaking” football by pulling it too far away from its community roots.
Ceferin also took the opportunity to reaffirm that UEFA will never support or organize an exclusive competition like the European Super League, emphasizing a commitment to “unity, balance and the strength of everyone, not just a few.”
