Top clubs consider overseas games

[boss]

A Premier League match in T&T? 

The 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.

It is unlikely any decision will be taken before the Premier League's annual summer meeting in June, but any changes could come into effect for the 2010/11 season.

Points from those extra games would count towards the league table.

Should the proposal get the go-ahead, cities in Asia, Middle East and North America are likely to show a strong interest in hosting the extra games.

It is believed each venue would host two matches over a weekend.

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 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 by the financial advantages for the clubs.

"Clubs will see this as a chance to make more money so they can invest in new facilities and better players."

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.

[Jayerson]

Only money those guys seeing.

[royal]

de pro league should do dat too.Go up de islands and play some games.We have a lot of Guyanese,St Lucians and other islanders on some of the pro teams 

[Bakes]

de pro league should do dat too.Go up de islands and play some games.We have a lot of Guyanese,St Lucians and other islanders on some of the pro teams 

We cyah draw fly at home is in forrin we go draw dem? lol



De EPL only following fashion from de NFL.

[royal]

de pro league should do dat too.Go up de islands and play some games.We have a lot of Guyanese,St Lucians and other islanders on some of the pro teams 

We cyah draw fly at home is in forrin we go draw dem? lol



De EPL only following fashion from de NFL.

I believe they did that a few years ago when W Connection played another pro team in St Lucia,they drew a much bigger crowd than at home.

[MEP]

The NFL probably shaking in their boots right now since they created this devil. The NFL can only offer one maybe two games abroad without extending their season and still make a profit as the Euro is worth more than the $ these days. With the EPL any games played in the US will be seen as an incursion into the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB seasons and to be profitable several games will have to be offered.

[JDB]

Just a bad idea because you destroy what is a true round robin tournament.

In American sports teams don't have identical schedules. The differences in strength of schedule are not a problem because there is a playoff system at the end to decide the eventual winner and the best teams generally make the playoffs.

Introducing this to the English league wil lbe very different.

What happens when the team that plays Derby 3 times for the season just happens to win the league on goal difference from a team that plays their extra game against a much better side?

[marcpurcell]

Chances are they will go to Asia, the USA and Dubai. Those are some of the bigger markets where the EPL will gain more exposure.

[Bourbon]

Steups. So dey having teams fight for points and fight jet lag and different environments too in an already packed football schedule?

[Deeks]

The EPL teams, at least the top 5, has deep benches. This will allow some of the bench warmers to play more. They will not be disgruntled.  Mo money, mo money!

[dinho]

Blatter opposes Prem playing games abroad

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7792986/Blatter-opposes-Prem-playing-games-abroad

LONDON (AP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he won't let the English Premier League play games abroad and believes the proposal will harm England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

The Premier League announced last week its clubs supported a plan to stage a 39th round of games in five different countries starting from the 2010-11 season.

But the idea has led to widespread opposition from fans groups and gained little support around the world, especially in countries expected to host games. The head of the Asian Confederation opposed it and U.S. federation president Sunil Gulati said he would not accept it without FIFA's permission.

"This will never happen. At least this will not happen as long as I am the president of FIFA," Blatter, who remains president until 2011, told the BBC.

"Those that are richer than the others, they have more responsibility and what the Premier League is trying to do is contrary to this responsibility."

Blatter said the Premier League's proposal was simply to make more money and he believed the FIFA executive committee would oppose it.

"This does not take into consideration the fans of the clubs and it gives the impression that they just want to go on tour to make some money," he said. "This is something I cannot understand and definitely the FIFA executive committee will not sanction such an initiative."

Blatter's strongly worded opposition to the proposal could force the Premier League into a rethink, especially if he believes that the idea would get so much criticism that it could endanger England's planned bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

"When it comes to a decision of the executive committee concerning this matter of the 39th round, and I am sure they will be against it, then it will not have a positive impact on the bid from England for the World Cup in 2018," he said.

"This is abuse. The rich Premier League is trying to get richer and expand the importance of that league."