Fifa boss Blatter rejects Premier League plans to go abroad
Fifa preident Sepp Blatter has spoken out against the Premier League's plans for a 39th game
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Friday, 15, Feb 2008 09:04
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has rejected the proposals of the Premier League to play a 39th round of the English domestic competition abroad.
A statement from the league's organisers last week confirmed that they had the support of all 20 club chairmen to investigate further the prospect of introducing an extra competitive league game to the season.
This would involve teams travelling to another country, possibly in Asia, Australia or the United States, to showcase the league in a competitive match that will count towards the final standings.
However, several parties have come out in opposition to the plan, including the Asian Football Confederation and a number of fans' interest groups.
And now it seems Blatter, who in theory would have the power to veto the proposal even if it was passed by the Premier League's organisers, has also spoken of his distaste for the 'inconsiderate' proposition and said Fifa will not sanction 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," Blatter told the BBC.
"This will never happen, at least as long as I am the president of Fifa."
Blatter also pointed to the fact that the Premier League is the most wealthy of all the domestic markets in the world, meaning "they have more responsibility - and what they are trying to do is contrary to this responsibility".
The Premier League has made it clear from the beginning that the plan is still in the "very early stages of development" and any decision to begin seriously planning the logistics would only be taken after "extensive consultation".
However, Blatter flatly rebuffed the claims of the Premier League that it would not necessarily need permission from Fifa, or even foreign national associations, if the Football Association ratified the plan.
"Even if the FA did sanction it, all the national associations receiving these clubs would have to sanction it also. This will be very difficult," Blatter continued.
"In addition to that, the Fifa executive committee will apply article two of the Fifa statutes: 'to prevent all methods or practices which might jeopardise the integrity of matches or competitions or give rise to abuse of association football'.
He added: "This is abuse. The rich Premier League is trying to get richer and wants to expand the importance of that league."