The EPL’s idea of playing league games abroad comes under fire again and again, with FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez the latest to rubbish the idea.
Blatter refuses to let the game become a "circus act" and will do everything in his power to prevent the move. He also hinted at problems for England’s 2018 World Cup bid, and this will raise some eyebrows.
A very stern Blatter went on to say that while his executive committee would make a formal decision on the 14th of March, his mind was already made up.
"This will never happen as long as I'm president of FIFA."
Benitez claims he and Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry have discussed the issue and that neither believe the change would be good for the EPL.
By way of appeasing the EPL’s obsession with money, Benitez even suggested a top four offseason tournament.
These latest rumblings come after the EPL’s Chief Executive Richard Scudamore yesterday did his best to stress that the EPL would move ahead regardless, claiming that he has the backing of all 20 EPL clubs.
Well, some people obviously don't think so, Mr. Scudamore!
6 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Mark Syrett about 1 year ago
I have no doubt this will happen. The bosman ruling was met with these headlines, so was the conversion of 24 epl teams to 20.
Managers have to keep on the good side of the fans - who this obviously hurts, but in the long run it's the chairman who will decide.
Also I have yet to discover an English football fan who thinks Blatter has been good for the game, the man is very intellingent yet seems intent on annoying everyone, and has come out with suggestions that can only be described as a joke. I will not quote any as I could go on for hours about him and Platini.
Every day a new person will be against it, then another for it.
It will probably be pushed through during the transfer window when the papers have something else to think about, and the fans are more interested in weather Jeffers is really being signed or weather it is a sick joke.
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Sheikh Zakaria about 1 year ago
As an Asian fan, i really dont see something disastrous happening to the EPL..
It'll be a perfect match if all the teams cancel one of their preseasons' outings..
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Mike Prescott about 1 year ago
It wouldn’t be disastrous if they exported a normal league game. The problem is this idea of creating a 39th game. This would throw the integrity of the league into doubt.
Threatening the FA with losing the World Cup is probably the only sensible thing to ever come out of Sepp Blatter’s mouth.
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Mark Syrett about 1 year ago
What did I say. Benitez comes out against it, and a few hours later Wenger comes out for it. Then again I think that be be just to annoy Ferguson and Benitez.
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Jamie Bentley about 1 year ago
This article is very well structured and written.
I really like the last sentence too:
"Well, some people obviously don't think so, Mr. Scudamore!"
Made me laugh out loud!
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Andrew McNair about 1 year ago
Thanks Jamie. Appreciate the kind comment.
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