For many years now, wey football dey happen for Europe, all d league matches dey happen for inside country wey d league belong. For example, La Liga matches dey always happen for Spain, Serie A matches dey happen for Italy. But now, UEFA don nod head gree make some of dis matches happen outside Europe, and dis one na serious game changer.
Dem say make we no panic yet, say na just one-time approval, but many people dey look di tin as first step to big wahala or big change, depending on how you see am.
Wetin UEFA Gree Exactly?
UEFA don give green light make:
Barcelona vs Villarreal wey be La Liga match happen for Miami, USA.
AC Milan vs Como, Serie A match, go happen for Perth, Australia.
Dem talk say na just for dis season and dem do am under plenty reluctant condition. UEFA no too dey happy but pressure from clubs, promoters and some legal cases don make dem bend small.
Why Dem Wan Carry League Match Go Abroad?
Dis question dey everybody mouth. Na why dem go wan play home league match for far far obodo like America or Australia? Well, na di usual suspect:
Money Matter – Clubs wan make more money. To play for US or Aussie mean bigger ticket sales, more merchandise, more eyeballs.
Fan Base Growth – Clubs like Barcelona, AC Milan and even small ones dey try expand dia fan base. Make more people for abroad sabi dem.
Promoters Wahala – Companies like Relevent Sports don dey push since 2018 make La Liga matches happen for US. Dem don carry matter go court before.
Test Run – UEFA wan see wetin go happen if dem try am once. If e work, dem fit continue.
na where wahala dey real. Fans wey dey live for Spain or Italy dey feel like dem don suffer loss. Dem dey ask:
“We wey dey buy season ticket nko?”
“Why una go carry match wey suppose be our home go another continent?”
“Na so una wan take sell us finish?”
Some dey even vow say dem no go renew ticket or support club again if dis kain tin continue. But fans wey dey live abroad dey happy say dem go finally see live match.
Players and Coaches Dey Worry Too
No be only fans dey feel am. Players and coaches get dia own concern too.
Jet lag: Travel from Europe to US or Australia no be beans. Body go dey weak.
Tight schedule: Some teams go still get Champions League match same week.
Training and prep: Everything go scatter because of long waka.
Even injury risk go high. Person no fit train well after 15-hour flight and still expect peak performance.
UEFA Dey Try Balance Di Matter
UEFA talk say dem gree dis one under special arrangement and dem no wan make am regular tin. Dem even talk say:
Every club wey wan try dis kind move go need approval.
League bodies must provide reason wey make sense.
Na only neutral matches wey no go shake title race or relegation fit qualify.
But even with dis rules, many people dey fear say once e start, e no go stop.
Legal Side of Di Matter
Dis case no be today e start. Since 2018, people like Relevent Sports don dey drag La Liga and other football bodies go court say dem suppose fit host official matches for abroad. Back then, FIFA block am. But as law cases continue, court don begin shake table.
Dis UEFA approval na like settlement or testing ground, so everybody dey watch how e go be.
Wetin Go Happen Next?
If dis two matches go well:
Stadium full.
Money drop.
Fans enjoy.
No injury or wahala.
Then clubs go rush begin apply to move more matches. Tomorrow, you fit hear say:
Manchester United dey go Dubai to play Arsenal.
Bayern dey go Japan to face Dortmund.
PSG dey head Brazil go jam Lyon.
But e get danger:
Local fans go dey vex.
Small clubs no go fit afford am.
Home advantage go waka.
Na Beginning of Big Change?
E fit be beginning of one big football revolution. Just like how Champions League change club football forever, dis move fit lead to globalised domestic leagues. Imagine one future wey:
Teams dey travel like NBA franchise.
Season ticket no go matter again.
Fans go dey pick matches online, not stadium.
But many people believe say football still suppose be community game, with fans close to club and stadium. Dis kain foreign waka fit disconnect club from di people wey build am.
Conclusion
UEFA don open door, even if na small crack. As dem approve make two domestic matches happen for abroad, di whole football world dey watch. E get as e sweet for money and brand side, but e bitter for culture and tradition.
Di big question na: which one UEFA go choose – di cash or di culture?
