Serie A boss tells Rabiot to 'respect employer' on overseas games

Serie A main executive Luigi de Siervo said Adrien Rabiot should "respect his employer" aft nan AC Milan midfielder criticised plans for overseas convention matches.

In February Milan will play their Serie A lucifer pinch Como successful Perth, Australia, while La Liga clubs Villarreal and Barcelona are owed to look each different successful Miami successful December.

France world Rabiot told French newspaper Le Figaro, external that nan plans are "completely crazy" and "really absurd".

"There's a batch of talk astir schedules and subordinate health, but this each seems genuinely absurd. It's crazy to recreation truthful galore miles for a lucifer betwixt 2 Italian teams successful Australia. We person to adapt, arsenic always," nan 30-year-old said.

Asked astir Rabiot's comments astatine a Serie A assembly gathering successful Rome, De Siervo said: "He's right, but Rabiot forgets, for illustration each footballers who gain millions of euros, that they are paid to transportation retired an activity, to play football.

"He should person respect for nan money he earns, complying pinch nan wishes of his employer, Milan, who accepted and pushed for this lucifer to beryllium played abroad."

On Monday Uefa confirmed it had "reluctantly" approved 2 European convention matches to beryllium played abroad.

Aleksander Ceferin doubled down connected Uefa's guidance connected Wednesday, pinch nan Uefa president saying Europe's apical clubs consequence "breaking" shot if convention games are moved overseas.

"Football is not conscionable astir equilibrium sheets. It's not conscionable entertainment. It's life successful our communities, nan streets, nan clubs and nan fans which style it. If we propulsion it excessively acold distant from those roots we consequence breaking it," Ceferin told nine officials astatine nan European Football Clubs' (formerly nan European Club Association) wide assembly successful Rome.

"In uncertain times shot is our anchor and gives america a communal ground, a joyousness we tin share. In bully times and successful bad, shot is ever there, reliable lasting - ever there.

"When Europe faces awesome political, economical and societal challenges we request thing which holds america together. Football has that powerfulness and we must sphere it.

"I judge it will prosper and inspire. It will do truthful because we are strong."

Uefa said it consulted stakeholders and recovered "widespread deficiency of support" for convention matches to beryllium played abroad, echoing concerns raised by fans, different leagues, clubs, players and European institutions.

But it said world governing assemblage Fifa's regulatory model is "not clear and elaborate enough" for it to artifact nan plans.

Fifa group up a moving group past twelvemonth to look astatine nan effect of playing competitory home matches overseas.

Ceferin besides said Uefa would ne'er create aliases support an exclusive competition, further confirming its position against a European Super League.

Twelve of Europe's starring clubs, including six from nan Premier League, signed up to plans to shape a European Super League successful 2021.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham were nan English representatives, joining AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona arsenic founding members.

Revamped plans were announced aft a apical tribunal ruled banning clubs from joining a breakaway convention was unlawful.

Ceferin said: "Europe sets standards successful world shot and for that logic we spot attacks from extracurricular to reshape nan game.

"Change is portion of shot communicative - we cognize this very good - but lasting worth comes only from unity, equilibrium and nan spot of everyone, not conscionable a few.

"Uefa will ne'er and would not organise a title for 12 clubs only.

"Uefa wants inclusion; wants that nan dream stays alive. We will make judge our nine shot is inclusive and everyone has a chance to triumph nan champion competitions."