Top clubs consider overseas games

[Exiled_red]

Really bad idea would make a mockery of the whole league, with so much resting on the final outcome an easier draw could gift someone the title or cost someone relegation, playing everyone once at home and once away is fair, this could come down to the luck of the draw

[PLY]

One more giant leap away from the what the game is meant to be about.

It all started with Sky imo

[Jazzmaster]

Just another indication that the premier league is becoming more and more distanced from the local fan. A sad state of affairs if you ask me. These matches would be soulless money making pantomimes with no real heart.

Dumbest idea ever.

[Shaggy]

I've had a Bitter 'mate' on at me via email all morning saying "your rotten club will be the ones who embrace it the most, what are you complaining about?"

****ing ****house.

[Jazzmaster]

All of the top4 will embrace it to be fair.

[PTP]

****ing crazy idea -

[felly]

Here is another link, just like the others really

Stupid idea
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Premier League - Premier League goes on tour

Eurosport - Thu, 07 Feb 17:24:00 2008

The Premier League will consider staging matches abroad from the 2010/11 season.

All 20 top-flight clubs have agreed to explore a proposal to increase the season by one game, with the extra fixture being held at locations around the globe on a weekend in January.

Six cities - believed to be Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Melbourne and Miami - are in contention to host the matches, with four top flight teams heading to each one of the five chosen cities.

The addition of a 39th fixture would mean certain teams play each other three times in a season, and it is thought the matches will be decided by a draw, with top teams kept apart.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said a verdict on whether to follow through with the plan is still a year away, with the decision on host cities unlikely to be taken until 2010.

Scudamore said on the Premier League's official website: "We are proud the Premier League is viewed as the strongest domestic football competition in the world by fans at home and abroad, and we are committed to maintaining this position.

"The international round is an exciting and innovative proposal that needs careful consideration before being introduced.

"However, this concept recognises the truly global appeal of the Barclays Premier League whilst understanding that the traditions of the English game have always underpinned our success.

"The globalisation of sport is both an opportunity and a challenge; one that needs addressing in a responsible way.

"Nonetheless, it is critical we retain our English character by improving our efforts to produce home grown talent, deepening our commitment to community engagement and continuing our investment in the grass roots."

The move is sure to bring howls of protests from purists and die-hard fans who are now facing the prospect of having to travel to the other side of the world to follow their team.

But the proposal is likely to be met with approval by clubs looking to develop the Premier League's profile overseas.

Pre-season tours to far-flung destinations are an annual ritual for many high-profile teams but competitive matches have never been played outside England and Wales.

The NFL staged its first regular season game in London last October when the Miami Dolphins played at 'home' to the New York Giants at Wembley.

The Giants, 13-10 winners on that occasion, went on to win the Superbowl, beating the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in Arizona on Sunday.

Such was the London experiment's success, another game will be staged at Wembley in 2008 between the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints.

Major League Baseball and the NHL have also staged competitive fixtures overse

[alunevans]

What a ****ing disastrously ****e idea.

If this came into being I think I'd consider giving it up. Or at least trying to.

I'd definitely give up. The whole thing would lack any point anymore.

Put a marker down on that poeple. January 2011, should this come in, I will be selling my rights to my season ticket to the highest bidder.

If the whole thing had meaning then of course I'd just sign it over for free because it'd mean something to the other fan, but then if it had meaning I wouldn't be taking that step.

If this comes in then I'm gone for good. And anyone who doesn't mind being fleeced by the cashcow no matter what it does can put their money where their mouth is and start off by giving a big dollop of dosh to me. It'd fund a few albums or something after all.

Watch this space. 2011 happens, theres a season ticket for sale.

[alunevans]

So you have to play one team 3 times?

How does that work?

financially - thats the only way it works but its the only way that matters too.

[alunevans]

Wow, your interpretation is even more stupid than the initial idea.

His interpretation is spot on. One of the teams you will play 3 times. The rest you play twice. How are you reading it ??

[dom9]

What a ****ing disastrously ****e idea.

If this came into being I think I'd consider giving it up. Or at least trying to.

I feel the same, and have done for a while now. Football has become a joke. This is another nail in the coffin.

**** global brands and all that.

We're all to blame though. We pay for Sky and Setanta. We go to games. We buy merchandise. What ever they give us (well charge us for), we pay up.

We can't stump up much more, so they are gonna ask the foreigners to pay up.

On 5live, they said there will be one weekend when these games are played, and they will be televised live back to back around the world. Ridiculous.

[Red_Polo]

Disgusted by the idea. It's only going to get worse.

[carlton]

Fair Dinkum its one game, one game in an extended season. Its a great idea. Face it the EPL is a global giant and has been for several years and the money that the'foreigners' like myself pay to watch the EPL helps the club attract players like Torres and keeps players like Gerrard. How does this spell the death of English football? Bit of an over-reaction.

[Shaggy]

Fair Dinkum

[Craig_H]

If they are adamant to it, then it would be easier to organise within the FA Cup

Spot on.

Firstly, the smaller PL clubs wouldnt have a big enough worldwide following to make this worthwhile. So while 90 million (or whatever) folk in china go mental trying to get tickets to see LFC or Man Utd, you'd get 112 people watching Derby v Wigan in Tokyo...pointless.

Using the FA Cup would be interesting, but i doubt any early-round ties would generate much interest, so you're looking at the final (or the semi final) being played abroad, similar to the superbowl recently. But then you're taking it away from the real fans who have been to the previous games and they miss out on a cup final 'day out'...

It's just a **** idea really, but of course it'll happen. And i bet you it wont just be one game, give it a few years and it'll become 5 or maybe even 10.

Money will dictate, like always.