ISTANBUL, Oct. 7 -- Uefa said yesterday that it reluctantly approved requests for a Spanish LaLiga match between Villarreal and Barcelona and an Italian Serie A clash between AC Milan and Como to be played abroad, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

The football governing body said in a statement that the Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it.

Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin stressed that all league clashes should be played on home soil, noting that "anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions."

"While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exc...