Commissioner Pledges Support to Fans of Barcelona, Milan, and More

Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Equity, Youth, Culture, and Sport, expressed deep disappointment over proposals to organize national league matches outside Europe.

“For me, it is clear: European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe,” Micallef wrote on X, CE Report quotes ANSA.

As both Commissioner and lifelong football fan, he emphasized that clubs owe much of their success to their loyal fans and local communities. This situation represents the first major governance stress test since the Super League crisis.

“Strong clubs rooted in their communities are the heart of the European sports model. Moving competitions abroad is not innovation—it’s betrayal,” he stressed.

Micallef also spoke with Ronan Evain of Fans Europe to show solidarity and pledged support for football fans, especially those in Spain (FC Barcelona, Villarreal CF) and Italy (AC Milan, Como 1907).

At the European Sports Forum in Krakow, he promised that fans would be fully involved in discussions on sport and governance.