Torino president Cairo slams Milan-Como plans for Australia: ‘We need to bring fans closer’ | OneFootball

Torino president Urbano Cairo has spoken at the Festival dello Sport, where he criticised plans to potentially hold February’s game between Milan-Como in Perth, Australia in February.

With quotes via MilanNews.it, Cairo said “I don’t agree” with the plans, before adding “We need to bring the fans closer to the teams and make the stadiums more welcoming. I don’t see going to play in Perth as a useful thing.”

Milan-Como in Australia in February?

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 15: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan is challenged by Gabriel Strefezza and Lucas Da Cunha of Como during the Serie A match between Milan-Como at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 15, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Currently, there are plans to host the first ever major European game abroad in February, with UEFA committee approval the only thing left in the way of the groundbreaking plans.

Serie A would be the first of the top European leagues to host a game in another country and Australia has been selected as the ideal destination to test the waters.

Cairo: ‘Ibrahimovic has an extraordinary mentality’

ROME, ITALY – MAY 14: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Football Advisor at AC Milan, looks on after the team’s defeat in the Coppa Italia Final match between AC Milan and Bologna at Stadio Olimpico on May 14, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Cairo also spoke about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the legendary former striker currently serving as the Milan advisor to RedBird, the parent company who own the Rossoneri.

“He is a great character” Cairo said, “who has made huge contributions to the world of football and sport in general.”

He continued, “At almost 40, he returned to Milan and played a big part in a team that won the Scudetto. He is a character with an extraordinary mentality.”