The controversial plan for February's Serie A match between AC Milan and Como to be played outside Italy in the Australian city of Perth has fallen through.
    "Both parties have come to this decision due to financial risks that could not be mitigated, onerous approval conditions, and last-minute complications beyond their control," read a joint statement released on Monday by Serie A and the Government of Western Australia.
    Serie A had intended to move the game so that it does not clash with the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the San Siro on February 6.
    Only last week Serie A President Ezio Simonelli said that the league was pressing ahead with the plan to stage the game on the other side of the world.
    "While expressing disappointment at the outcome of this project, we remain firmly convinced that this conclusion is a missed opportunity in the growth of Italian football at an international level, which also deprives the many Serie A fans abroad of the dream of attending a match of their favourite team in person," Simonelli said in Monday's joint statement.
    Some players had expressed opposition to the prospect of a Serie A match taking place abroad and Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said in October that he would have preferred it to be played in Italy.

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