Sports Minister Rita Saffioti and Tourism Minister Reece Whitby welcome AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri and captain Mike Maignan to Perth ahead of their game with Perth Glory this Thursday.
UPDATE: The fate of the highly-anticipated AC Milan match in Perth is hanging by a thread as officials scramble to negotiate critical terms. Rita Saffioti, the Sport and Recreation Minister, confirmed that the final decision is beyond her control, amid fears that the match could be vetoed entirely.
A pivotal meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 25, 2023, between Serie President Ezio Simonelli and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Doha. This is a last-ditch effort to salvage the match between AC Milan and Como, which would mark the first time two Italian clubs compete for Serie A points outside of Europe.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has imposed strict conditions, insisting the match cannot count for Serie A points and must not utilize Italian referees. Saffioti expressed her discontent with these stipulations, labeling them unacceptable. “We’ve done all we can,” she stated on Sunday. “It is now up to the other parties, who I understand will all be meeting later this week, to see if those conditions can be wiped out.”
Amidst this uncertainty, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas criticized the government for prioritizing what he called “pet projects” over pressing issues facing West Australians. He questioned the relevance of the match, saying, “I’m not sure how many ardent Como supporters there are in WA… it has become an Italian soap opera that the Treasurer has cast herself in the lead role in, and this is unacceptable.”
Saffioti dismissed claims that the push for the Serie A match might be futile. “We make no apologies for going after key events,” she asserted, emphasizing the importance of bringing high-profile sports to Western Australia.
The clock is ticking as the sports community and fans anxiously await outcomes from the upcoming meetings. With an event this significant on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher, impacting both local sentiments and the international football scene.
Stay tuned as developments unfold in the next few days, which could change the course of this highly anticipated match.
