VIDEO SHOWS: INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN ENDEMANN HEAD OF POLICY, FANS EUROPE RESENDING WITH FULL SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT FOR B-ROLL PLEASE SEE EDIT 1123-SOCCER-UEFA/ SHOWS: BERLIN, GERMANY (OCTOBER 7, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF POLICY, FANS EUROPE, MARTIN ENDEMANN, SAYING: "I think obviously as an organisation, we are very disappointed with the ruling. We collected signatories from more than 600 fan groups all over Europe opposing this just two weeks ago. That was roughly 3.5 million fans combined, saying one game is too many. So obviously we're not happy with that decision. That being said, we read from UEFA clear words on their general position against games being played abroad. We don't think it would have been necessary to allow these either. I think we can understand UEFA's thinking here that they were potentially afraid of the repercussions by the two leagues if they didn't get permission when UEFA thinks their own and FIFA's regulations are not robust enough, but now the focus has to be to make the through its actual process possible so that that never happens again." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF POLICY, FANS EUROPE, MARTIN ENDEMANN, SAYING: "Football belongs in the communities and there's a reason why the name of the city is attached to a football club. We as supporters of our team called Whatever, Berlin XYZ, Liverpool XYZ and football fans feel strongly about their identity, their identity belonging to the city, their identity belonging to the community. It's not something you should or could just move to the other side of the continent. And I think if you really are a fan from abroad, fair enough. You're invited all the time to come to the respective city to watch the team where it's supposed to be played." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF POLICY, FANS EUROPE, MARTIN ENDEMANN, ON COMPARISONS WITH US SPORTS BEING PLAYED ABROAD, SAYING: "It's like apple and pears, it has nothing to do with each other. The American model of sport is completely different to the European model of sport. American clubs are franchises. They are owned by basically one billionaire who makes all the decisions. There's not so much of a community around it and even a membership model like some of the European clubs have, where you can influence decision, where you can elect presidents, where you can be a part of the club, but it all doesn't exist. And again, I'm happy for friendlies and exhibition games to be played abroad. Clubs do that all the time. If you're an Arsenal or Barcelona fan in Miami, New York or wherever you will have a chance to see your club. It's not needed that domestic league games are being played anywhere but in their home." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF POLICY, FANS EUROPE, MARTIN ENDEMANN, ON THE IDEA BECOMING A POTENTIAL ARMS RACE, SAYING: "For us it's a big danger. I mean, at the moment, fans in Germany and the UK are maybe not the fear is not as high as the ones in Spain and Italy at the moment, because in England you have the independent regulator, you have commitments from the league, the FA. The same as in Germany that this never happens in that country. But once Pandora's box is open and if that business model and that's a big if as well, will work what with these clubs leagues and N.A's decides and that's the biggest problem in modern football, it's an arms race. We just need more more more more. No one ever thinks about how are you actually cut spending if this race wouldn't be happening, then these terrible ideas wouldn't pop up all the time as well." STORY: Football supporter body Fans Europe has condemned the decision by UEFA to approve Serie A and LaLiga fixtures to be played abroad, saying that football 'belongs in the communty'. Martin Endemann, Head of Policy warned that UEFA's decision could spark an 'arms race' between other European teams and leagues. The European governing body confirmed on Monday that it reluctantly approved the LaLiga fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal to be staged in Miami in late December, and AC Milan’s Serie A encounter with Como to be held in Perth, Australia, in early February. Milan opted for a foreign location as their San Siro stadium will be unavailable as both the city and the stadium prepare to host the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 6. Spain's LaLiga has been pursuing their transatlantic vision for almost a decade, emulating the strategy employed by the NFL and NBA to establish themselves in other markets. UEFA said its Executive Committee had reluctantly approved the move as an exception, stressing that FIFA’s regulatory framework, still under review, lacks sufficient clarity and detail, and reiterating that it remains opposed in principle to such matches. "League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions," UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement. "While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent. "Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment." (Production: Oliver Regan)
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