Serie A said the Italian League match between AC Milan and Como in Australia will no longer take place due to football sanctions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation.
The match was “reluctantly” approved by UEFA in October to be played alongside a La Liga tie between Villarreal and Barcelona, which was due to be played in Miami but that was also cancelled.
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The Italian top-flight match was originally scheduled to be played in Perth, Western Australia, in February and would be the first European league game to be played abroad.
The Serie A president said the financial risks and late complications meant it was “impossible” for the match to go ahead.
Ezio Simonelli said: “Facing further unacceptable demands made by the AFC to the Commonwealth of Australia, the Western Australian Government and Serie A over the past few hours, it is no longer possible for Milan’s game against Como to be played in Perth on February 8.”
The plan initially encountered difficulties due to conditions set by the AFC, such as having to use Asian match officials, but Simonelli said this week the games would go ahead.
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Como has previously laid out his case for playing games abroad, saying “sacrifice is necessary” to ensure Serie A’s “survival” amid the Premier League’s financial dominance.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) criticized the plan, saying “one domestic game abroad is one too many”.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in August that there were no plans to play England’s top flight matches abroad.