Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo Fires Back at Rabiot

Serie A CEO defends Australian fixture, tells players to be grateful

Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo tells AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot to respect his employer and the money he earns amid controversy over Australia fixture.

“He should have respect for the money he earns, complying with the wishes of his employer, Milan...”

Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has responded to AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot's concerns over the planned league match against Como in Perth, Australia. De Siervo believes that footballers should respect their employers and the money they earn, emphasizing that players are paid to perform their duties, which includes adapting to schedules and playing in different locations.

Rabiot had expressed his surprise and skepticism about the decision to play the match in Australia, calling it “completely crazy” in an interview with Le Figaro. He questioned the logic behind traveling such long distances for a match between two Italian teams, highlighting the potential impact on player health.

The planned match in Perth is part of Serie A's efforts to increase international visibility, taking advantage of the San Siro's unavailability in February due to the Winter Olympics. De Siervo argued that this move aligns with the trend of top sports leagues exploring global opportunities, citing examples like the NFL and NBA playing games abroad.

Serie A chief executive Luigi de Siervo said Adrien Rabiot should "respect his employer" 😬

The AC Milan midfielder criticised plans for overseas league matches. pic.twitter.com/fAuBRZ7vCC

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 8, 2025

Pointers:

• Serie A's Plans: Playing a league match in Perth, Australia, to boost international visibility

• Rabiot's Concerns: Questioning the decision's logic and potential impact on player health

• De Siervo's Response: Footballers should respect their employers and the money they earn, adapting to schedules and playing in different locations

• UEFA's Stance: Reluctantly approved the fixture, citing a need for clearer regulatory frameworks in football

“I was surprised when I learned that AC Milan will be playing a Serie A match against Como ... in Australia,” Rabiot said.

“It's completely crazy. But these are financial agreements to give visibility to the league, things that are beyond us.

“There's a lot of talk about schedules and player health, but this all seems truly absurd. It's crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt, as always.”

Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Serie A, responded to Adrien Rabiot's criticism about playing AC Milan's match against Como in Australia, saying, “Rabiot forgets, like all footballers who earn millions of euros, that they are paid to carry out an activity, to play football.” De Siervo emphasized that Rabiot should respect the money he earns and comply with his employer's wishes, particularly since Milan accepted and pushed for the match to be played abroad.

🇦🇺 The Serie A match between Milan & Como that will take place in Perth, Australia, in February 2026 is now the world's biggest league away day of the season.

At 13,300km from Como, it is double the previous record distance: Khabarovsk vs. Chernomorets Novorossiysk in Russia's… pic.twitter.com/y9WiShAlNg

— The Sweeper (@SweeperPod) October 7, 2025

De Siervo also addressed concerns about player health, stating that it's a fundamental element and that Serie A is working to make the schedule logical. He acknowledged the organizational challenge and long flight hours but noted that top players travel business class and should understand that this is a sacrifice that can be made.

“Top-level players, whose salaries reflect the effort they put in, should understand better than anyone that this is a sacrifice that can be made,” De Siervo said. He drew parallels with other sports, mentioning the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, which often start abroad to strengthen the product.

De Siervo's response comes after Rabiot expressed his surprise and disappointment about the decision to play the match in Australia, calling it “completely crazy” and “absurd.”

“He's right, but Rabiot forgets, like all footballers who earn millions of euros, that they are paid to carry out an activity, to play football,” De Siervo told reporters.

“He should have respect for the money he earns, complying with the wishes of his employer, Milan, who accepted and pushed for this match to be played abroad.”

De Siervo risponde a #Rabiot su questione #MilanComo: “Lui e i gli altri sono pagati per giocare, deve avere rispetto dei soldi che guadagna e delle scelte del suo datore si lavoro, ossia il #Milan”@tvdellosport pic.twitter.com/AHYwj4Lq75

— GianluVisco (@GianluVisco) October 8, 2025

UEFA has given its reluctant approval for AC Milan's Serie A match against Como to be played in Perth, Australia, despite being opposed to domestic league matches being held abroad. This decision comes alongside a LaLiga game in Miami, with UEFA citing the lack of clarity in FIFA's regulatory framework as the reason for their approval. Luigi De Siervo, Serie A CEO, believes that football needs to follow the lead of other sports to continue growing, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changing times.

De Siervo points to examples like the NFL and NBA, which have successfully played games abroad, and cycling events like the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, which often start or pass through foreign countries to boost their global profile. He argues that playing matches in different locations can strengthen the sport, rather than weaken it, and that football should be open to exploring new opportunities for growth and international visibility.

The planned match in Perth is part of Serie A's efforts to increase its global reach, taking advantage of the San Siro's unavailability due to the Winter Olympics. De Siervo's comments have sparked debate, with some, like AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot, expressing skepticism about the decision 

“Last year's Tour de France started from Florence, the Giro d'Italia often begins abroad. This is done to strengthen the product, not weaken it,” he said of the cycling events.

“The NFL and NBA have been playing away from the US for years, with the concept of being a global product.

“UEFA said it was against it, but accepted the exceptional nature of this event. We believe, however, that this can be a model that the world of football, with precise rules, must follow if it is not to lose out to other sports.”