Fan associations across Europe have expressed their opposition to attempts by some football leagues to hold domestic matches outside their countries, stating on Wednesday that this move undermines competition rules for short-term financial gains.

The Italian Serie A plans to hold a match between Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, in February, while the Spanish league hopes to move a Villarreal vs. Barcelona game to Miami in December.

European fan associations issued a harsh statement signed by hundreds of fan groups from across the continent.

The statement said: “Recent efforts to change the nature of European football through the Spanish and Italian leagues seeking to move some of their matches to the United States and Australia represent a direct attack on the essence of the game.”

It continued: “Football is based on a set of rules and principles, and the simplicity of local leagues lies in each club playing the others home and away, with the best team winning the title. Moving matches abroad undermines this fundamental pillar of the game.”

“Any deviation from the current rules is a deviation from football aimed at entertainment and short-term financial gains,” it added.

The Italian and Spanish football federations have already given the green light to their leagues to hold the proposed matches but are still awaiting approval from UEFA and FIFA.

European fan associations said that moving players, staff, and fans to another country to play a “local” match “is ridiculous and costly,” urging UEFA and FIFA to reject these proposals.

Last week, Glen Micallef, the European Commission’s sports commissioner, said moving matches abroad is not an innovation but a “betrayal.”

The Italian league association responded to Micallef’s comments, calling them “exaggerated,” noting that the team will play only one match abroad out of 380 total matches in the season.

Javier Tebas, president of the Spanish league association, defended the decision, saying fans worldwide deserve to watch their clubs in the stands.