Premier League games abroad ‘back on’ with matches potentially held in USA, China, Brazil and Indonesia
PREMIER LEAGUE bosses are once again discussing the potential for matches to be played abroad, according to reports.
The concept of a ’39th game’ was raised back in 2008, before being quickly shut down following fan discontent.
Supporters also voiced their anger at the European Super League plot that emerged in the spring, and collapsed despite popularity with fans overseas.
But the lucrative possibilities for playing league matches in front of full stadiums abroad remains and The Athletic have detailed discussions between club officials over reviving the idea.
Last week’s shareholder meeting in London, between representatives of all 20 clubs and the Prem, reportedly saw the concept mentioned.
There is said to be hope in some quarters that ‘meaningful’ matches can be played overseas in the long-term.
For now, that is set to commence with a bulked-out pre-season tournament in the United States next summer.
The league already holds an official exhibition competition every two years, the Asia Trophy, most recently played between Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham, and winners Wolves in 2019.
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There is also the extensive International Champions Cup hosted around the world most summers, earning the top clubs clubs around £15million.
The United States is reportedly seen as a vital area of growth for the Prem in years to come, along with Brazil, China and Indonesia.
Any move to take competitive matches abroad would take several years to pull off, but is described as a key facet of the league’s global growth plan.
Current Prem chief executive Richard Masters distanced himself from the European Super League plans, which came over a decade after the backlash to predecessor Richard Scudamore’s 39th-game plan.
The former league boss admitted in 2017 that the concept was ‘unacceptable’ but that the clubs were still keen on taking matches to overseas fans.
He said: “Is there still a burning desire to do it? The clubs would like to do it.
I believe it was a good idea to try to do it then and I still believe it’s a good idea to do it now, but I understand that it’s unacceptable
Richard Scudamore
“But we’re also realistic that until the fan reaction or the political reaction or the general media reaction is more warm towards it, it’s not going to happen.
“If it did happen it would never be a 39th game. It wouldn’t be an extra game, but I think there would still be a desire to do a round of fixtures internationally.
“But there is no prospect of it happening any time soon or in anybody’s realistic time frame. We have got no time for it.
“I’m a man of belief and I believe it was a good idea to try to do it then and I still believe it’s a good idea to do it now, but I understand that it’s unacceptable.”
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