he English Premier League is considering playing some matches overseas, BBC Sport has learned.
At a meeting in London on Thursday, all 20 clubs agreed to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games.
Those 10 extra games would be played at venues around the world, with cities bidding for the right to stage them.
It is understood the additional fixtures could be determined by a draw but that the top-five teams could be seeded to avoid playing each other.
Premier League's foreign plan explained
Interview: Football Supporters Fed's Malcolm Clarke
This is a chance for the Premier League to showcase its product around the world
BBC sports editor Mihir Bose
More details may emerge later on Thursday, but it is unlikely any decision will be taken before the Premier League's annual summer meeting in June.
Should the proposal get the go-ahead, changes could come into effect for the 2010/11 season, with points from those extra games counting towards the final league table.
It is believed each chosen venue would host two matches over a weekend.
Cities in Asia, Middle East and North America are likely to show a strong interest in hosting the extra games.
BBC sports editor Mihir Bose says the Premier League's decision to explore such a move is a "logical" one.
"The growth of the Premier League has been impressive in the last 15 years thanks to the sale of television rights in this country," he said.
"But now the market in the United Kingdom is becoming saturated and it is the overseas market which is now the big target area."
The Premier League's income from the sale of overseas TV rights has already increased from £178m in 2001 to £625m for the current deal that runs until 2010.
Broadcaster NowTV paid around £100m for the rights to Hong Kong alone.
Premier League games are broadcast to over 600m homes in 202 countries worldwide, while an estimated 1bn people watched the Premier League game between Manchester United and Arsenal in November 2007.
A number of top-flight clubs already play matches around the world as they seek to capitalise on the huge global interest in the English game.
Manchester United have millions of fans in China
Man Utd make regular visits to Asia and are proving a big hit in China
Manchester United are regular visitors to Asia, Middle East and America while other clubs are beginning to follow their lead.
"This is a chance for the Premier League to showcase its product around the world," added Bose.
"Some fans may feel aggrieved, but their concerns will be outweighed in the eyes of the clubs by the financial advantages.
"The clubs will see this as a chance to make more money so they can invest in new facilities and better players."
However, the co-chairman of the Football Supporters Federation suggested there would be a huge backlash to the Premier League's plan.
"I'm fairly confident in predicting that the overwhelming majority of football supporters will be totally opposed to this proposal," Malcolm Clarke told the BBC.
"This is yet another case of the Premier League threatening the tradition of our game simply to follow money.
"The idea that teams can play a league game in a place where their supporters won't be able to go and watch them will be totally opposed by the vast majority of supporters.
"What I want to do is put a challenge to the Premier League to abandon this completely if the majority of supporters turn out to be against it."
Former Fulham and Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez added that it might not be just supporters who were upset by the Premier League initiative.
"Other national associations won't be happy about the Premier League coming into their game, taking sponsors, taking advertising, taking revenue from their game," he said.
Nevertheless, there is likely to be a big scramble for the right to host the extra games.
"It will be like cities bidding for the Olympic Games or the World Cup," explained Bose.
The Premier League's proposal mirrors moves in other sports, notably American Football.
Miami Dolphins and New York Giants met at Wembley in October, the first competitive NFL game outside the Americas.
I know this has been discussed before, but I've always felt it was highly speculative. Now there is some official interest and ideas on how to make it work as groundwork for that speculation.
So...?
I love the idea. Having all teams have an alloted amount of games needed to be played elsewhere eliminates the problem that some clubs face (United) when trying to have an oversea game. The globalization of the sport/league is going to make this, to some degree, inevitable, in my opinion. Again, I love it, but for very selfish reasons. What do you guys think?
Birmingham co-owner David Gold says the Premier League should be praised for its proposal to take matches overseas.
"We are making history," he told BBC Sport. "The Premier League, which is the greatest league the world has ever known, is being adventurous.
"It is looking forward and is looking to take an English brand global. The idea is very worthy of consideration. I find this amazingly exciting."
But Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said the idea was still in its infancy.
"We have only agreed to explore something, nothing more than that," he said.
"When we find out more I'll be able to tell you if it is a good idea. We really are at step A and not step B or C.
"There is a load to look into. There are a lot of positives and negatives to come, but we don't really know. It's at a very, very early stage."
Reaction from fans in the UK has been swift, with many appearing unhappy about the idea.
The BBC's 606 website has been inundated with posts, with the majority of nearly 2,000 comments so far critical of the proposals.
Malcolm Clarke, co-chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, told BBC Sport: "I'm fairly confident in predicting that the overwhelming majority of football supporters will be totally opposed to this proposal.
"This is yet another case of the Premier League threatening the tradition of our game simply to follow money," he claimed.
"The idea that teams can play a league game in a place where their supporters won't be able to go and watch them will be totally opposed by the vast majority of supporters.
"What I want to do is put a challenge to the Premier League to abandon this completely if the majority of supporters turn out to be against it."
And Andy Mitten, editor of Manchester United fanzine 'United We Stand', said this move could set a "worrying precedent".
"What if it is a big success? What if Manchester United play a game once a year in Osaka, Melbourne or Dubai and then it becomes more attractive?" he told BBC News 24.
"It is one thing playing a pre-season friendly in Korea, it's another playing Fulham in Seoul in a league match.
"Some Manchester United fans will think it is great but the vast majority will be concerned that football is becoming ever more commercial and that Man Utd, as opposed to Bolton or Fulham, will be forced to trek across to different parts of the world to play games.
"There will be considerable concern among the fans if there is a trend that leads to the team playing more games away from Old Trafford."
Former Fulham and Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez added that it might not be just supporters who were upset by the Premier League initiative.
"Other national associations won't be happy about the Premier League coming into their game, taking sponsors, taking advertising, taking revenue from their game," he said.
"Collar turned up, back straight, chest stuck out, he glided into the arena as if he owned the fucking place. Any arena, but nowhere more effectively than Old Trafford. This was his stage. He loved it, the crowd loved him" -Roy Keane on Eric Cantona
Last edited by USAManUtd13 : 02-07-2008 at 04:30 PM.
It is an interesting idea but there are some points that need to be figuered out. Since the clubs agree with such thing then I don't see a problem. I guess time will only show how things will be in the future.
well as we concluded in the previous thread, there is no pefect solution, but this does eliminate the elitist side to the problem. Sp tje 29th game does in fact count towards the point todal?
Quality of Posts > Quantity of Posts
There is a reason I bleed red. United until I die.
I think as long as there is ample time to rest after these international trips, it will be an excellent idea. Going from England to Dubai is not the same as from England to Los Angeles. But if United could come to stateside, thatd be excellent!
I think this will be a bad idea. 10 extra games onto an already hectic shedule will just be absurd. Players will not have time to recover, unless they extend the league. If they extend the season then it will cause a big problem when there are international tournaments. It will reduce the time player can actually use to recover from the season.
i really cant imagine the league with 30% extra games.
I understand that this will serve many of EPL's wordwide fan base and will strengthen our image abroad but to be fair, a lot of fans will feel annoyed that they cant watch the biggest games because they live in the same country as my club.
Perhaps we can have some friendlies either in the summmer or in breaks in the season but imo going half way around the world to play a club which is only 4 hours drive away is just stupid.
If its about filling seats, most the big clubs already do that. Getting a ticked for Man united, arsenal or liverpool (stretching the term "big club here") is actually a challenge because there are so many season ticket holders and such a big demand for them already.
I bet you any money that sepp blatter is involved in this or approves :P
sig by shinx04
Quality > Quantity
which is why we give active members who post quality, media and pic room access.
I think this will be a bad idea. 10 extra games onto an already hectic shedule will just be absurd. Players will not have time to recover, unless they extend the league. If they extend the season then it will cause a big problem when there are international tournaments. It will reduce the time player can actually use to recover from the season.
i really cant imagine the league with 30% extra games.
I understand that this will serve many of EPL's wordwide fan base and will strengthen our image abroad but to be fair, a lot of fans will feel annoyed that they cant watch the biggest games because they live in the same country as my club.
Perhaps we can have some friendlies either in the summmer or in breaks in the season but imo going half way around the world to play a club which is only 4 hours drive away is just stupid.
If its about filling seats, most the big clubs already do that. Getting a ticked for Man united, arsenal or liverpool (stretching the term "big club here") is actually a challenge because there are so many season ticket holders and such a big demand for them already.
I bet you any money that sepp blatter is involved in this or approves :P
I absolutely agree with you. It's just extra "burden" on players. If the EPL really wants to "expose" its teams to the world then it should probably take measures towards winning the World Cup or Champions League. Serie A and LaLiga have the luxury of such titles (in near past) therefore, they don't have to employ such tactics in order to showcase their teams.
Playing cup finals abroad would still be better than playing a final league game on foreign grounds.
Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam has firmly rejected the idea of the Premier League staging games in Asia.
The Premier League last week announced an ambitious plan to play an extra 'international round' of matches in January from the 2010-11 season, extending the campaign to 39 games.
Several cities in Asia have been proposed as possible destinations to host some of the 10 fixtures, but Bin Hammam was unequivocal in his stance that he would not endorse a proposal which was detrimental to Asian domestic leagues.
'I always welcome the exchange of knowledge and expertise between foreign football associations and clubs, and support matches organised between AFC and other confederations which benefit the development of our clubs here in Asia,' he said in a statement.
'But at the present time, I can't see the wisdom in the proposed plans.
'My recommendation to the AFC executive committee would be to reject any initiatives of this nature.
'And we would urge the AFC member associations to protect their own national leagues and clubs within their territories. This is our position.
'With relation to the overall principle, it is my belief that it is not a good idea to organise domestic leagues in territories other than their own.'
Bin Hammam also mooted the idea that if the scheme does become a reality, other countries should be allowed to do the same in England.
'If this principle is accepted, then the FA Premier League must accept reciprocal arrangements within their own territory.'
The AFC forced Manchester United to cancel a proposed friendly in Malaysia last summer because of a clash with the Asian Cup, which the country was co-hosting.
The Football Association's Professional Game Board were due to meet today when the proposed 39th round of fixtures was due to be discussed.
the MLS also stated that they won't allow the EPL into the US unless it is sactioned by FIFA (which will never happen).
Quality of Posts > Quantity of Posts
There is a reason I bleed red. United until I die.
I think this will be a bad idea. 10 extra games onto an already hectic shedule will just be absurd. Players will not have time to recover, unless they extend the league. If they extend the season then it will cause a big problem when there are international tournaments. It will reduce the time player can actually use to recover from the season.
i really cant imagine the league with 30% extra games.
It's 10 total matches extra, not 10 matches per team. Even the EPL's not that asinine (or so one would hope).
Beyond the fact that this has about everything to do with money and marketing and merely another sign of just how far footballing execs are willing to go to whore their "product," this proposal is showing utter disrespect to the countries that are suggested as potential hosts. It only seems like a mark of recognition to them to send a meaningful competitive match to their country, but it absolutely undermines the domestic leagues and FAs. Call it a violation of footballing sovereignty, if you will.
yeah, my bad, i just realised that its only 1 more game per team
suddenly, the whole thing looks a lot less extreme than it did before lol.
I think this could work well if it was sheduled right. ie you dont have to play in hong kong 3 days before you got a game in the champions league etc.
it will help generate money, but the EPL makes a lot already and most the big clubs already sell out.
it will help improve our image, but i cant imagine it will do much for the league in the country your going to play in. Ie there is a big local derby but there is also a man united vs liverpool game.
it isnt so bad i suppose but imo it needs to be thought through very carefully.
sig by shinx04
Quality > Quantity
which is why we give active members who post quality, media and pic room access.
Top clubs consider overseas games
Top clubs consider overseas games -
02-07-2008, 02:23 PM
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