Serie A President Ezio Simonelli confirms the proposed match in Perth, Australia, is still on track despite unacceptable conditions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation.

Serie A President Ezio Simonelli has insisted that the proposed match in Perth, Australia, is still possible despite mounting obstacles.

The Italian FA approved Serie A’s request to move February’s fixture between AC Milan and Como due to San Siro’s unavailability as it hosts the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Simonelli told reporters that recent reports suggesting the Perth match was unlikely to go ahead were incorrect. “It’s not an idea that has been abandoned, but one that is still in progress,” he said. “We’ve received many favourable opinions.”

The only obstacle remaining is the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has imposed two conditions on the match. The conditions state that the match cannot be organised, promoted, or marketed by Serie A, and that the AFC would appoint the match officials. Simonelli said these conditions were unacceptable.

“We don’t consider those conditions acceptable, not because we don’t want to accept them, but because it’s impossible to play an Italian league match without defining it as such,” Simonelli said. “Just as it’s impossible to go to Australia without Italian referees.”

Simonelli said Serie A has asked FIFA to provide a final answer on the matter. He added that Italian referees will officiate the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia next week, also under the AFC’s jurisdiction. “Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding,” he said.

Simonelli will meet FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Doha on December 17 to discuss the issue. He emphasized that Serie A is still working towards staging the match in Perth on February 8 and has not prepared alternative plans.

“If FIFA says the match cannot take place, we’ll accept that,” Simonelli said. “I’m not making predictions. I’m simply saying that the process is still ongoing.”