Playing Premier League games overseas

[Bruce Wayne]

That's the thing. I forget which manager said it, but the basic gist was that the bigger clubs will obviously have more fans in far flung corners of the world, so it would be more like a home game to them. Liverpool playing in Norway for instance is hardly neutral territory.

It all seems rather complicated. Obviously making it 39 games would mean playing one side three times. It's been suggested that the games should be derby fixtures, or other high profile matches to ensure interest. No doubt some such as Man City will consider it unfair that they play United three times when someone else, perhaps a rival for Europe such as Villa would play Birmingham three times.

Obviously the oft spouted argument about over playing would raise its head again, especially at a time when other clubs around Europe are having a winter break.

It's all about money really. I believe in the plan presented to the PL chairmen yesterday it was said the games would make between £40 million and £80 million each year. I would expect Everton v Liverpool to earn a lot more than Portsmouth v Derby but who knows at this stage. It has to be remembered that 10 of the 20 club chairmen are no foreigners who have come here to make money. Getting more cash internationally is the growth area in this regard so it's an almost inevitable step.

 

[monty]

That's the thing. I forget which manager said it, but the basic gist was that the bigger clubs will obviously have more fans in far flung corners of the world, so it would be more like a home game to them. Liverpool playing in Norway for instance is hardly neutral territory.

It all seems rather complicated. Obviously making it 39 games would mean playing one side three times. It's been suggested that the games should be derby fixtures, or other high profile matches to ensure interest. No doubt some such as Man City will consider it unfair that they play United three times when someone else, perhaps a rival for Europe such as Villa would play Birmingham three times.

Obviously the oft spouted argument about over playing would raise its head again, especially at a time when other clubs around Europe are having a winter break.

It's all about money really. I believe in the plan presented to the PL chairmen yesterday it was said the games would make between £40 million and £80 million each year. I would expect Everton v Liverpool to earn a lot more than Portsmouth v Derby but who knows at this stage. It has to be remembered that 10 of the 20 club chairmen are no foreigners who have come here to make money. Getting more cash internationally is the growth area in this regard so it's an almost inevitable step.

I would much rather see a meaningful pre-season round the world tournament than have this cash raising gimmick thrust up on us, it would answer every argument I've heard claiming to be in favour and maintain the last vestage of honesty about the P/L, balance.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Hang on - Its just dawned on me.

The games abroad will be played on a set weekend in January - yeah???

Theres a chance a Merseyside derby could be played abroad - thats just not right at all.

 

[teppic]

Theres a chance a Merseyside derby could be played abroad - thats just not right at all.

dude, that's where it's at. it's a [Poor language removed] state of affairs, tommy.

 

[SuitsBlue]

So, English Premierleague sides are going to play abroad.

lets say Dubai - United Arab Emirates FA
lets say Beijing - Chinese FA
lets say New York - U.S FA
lets say Sydney - Australian FA
lets say Seoul - South Korean FA

Who is going to referee these games and ensure impartiality across all fixtures? Or are these footballing associations going to give up their footballing right to control of games on their sovereign ground?

What will this do to football in the respective countries? suddenly planet premiership lands and every other game and player is secondary.

How long before European big guns like real madrid, barcelona, bayern munich, the milans, and benfica want a slice of the action?

5 locations, 4 teams for 2 games each.

how long before sides like derby get the elbow for the galacticos?

its a slippery slope this one.

How will television revenues be split? How will they be sold? (in the current setup sky get four fifths of the live rights and first pick of the glitterati games)

Sponsorship, will shirt sponsors and manufacturers for the british market have the same deal abroad under the rules and regulations of the respective countries? could we see single game sponsorship introduced for these once seasonly spectacles.

How will altitudes and weather conditions be dealt with in terms of scheduling, tropical storms, tornados/typhoons, travel and match possibility become questionable, so at what point in the season can these games be played or will some sides be asked to travel great distances at problematic times whilst certain other sides travel short distances at convenient times.

European commitments could see so called star players not travel (anyone remember denis bergkamp?) and what will that do to the prestige of the fixtures that have been so built up and glamourised? especially if manure or chelsea send a 'B' team to beijing to give middlesbrough a hammering.

Top five seeding, what of bottom five seeding? like the current clamour, how balanced will it be for ...

Arsenal vs Birmingham
inbreds vs Derby
Manure vs Fulham
Chelsea vs Reading
Everton vs Tottenham
Man city vs Villa
Blackburn vs Wigan
West ham vs Pompey
Boro vs Toon
Sunderland vs Wigan

Just a hypothetical but some of those games seem to mean a little more in terms of League Finishing places than others.

Ask Sheffield United if they would have liked an extra game last season.

 

[atrottel]

Well in, suits, exactly what I think is behind this (and which not one article that I have seen has picked up on).

What happens in 10 years time?

"Oh, nobody wants to watch Bolton or Derby play, so we are being forced by market pressures to create a Euro Premier League, otherwise we won't be able to pay your favourite players."

And who do we reckon might be in and who might be out of a Euro Premier League (naturally without promotion or relegation)?

 

[Philw]

What an absolutely ridiculously abhorrent idea. There are so many reasons not to even consider this that i can't believe that anyone even had the balls to bring it up at whatever it is that takes the place of a "meeting" at Prem League HQ. Presumably just a piss-up at Spearmint Rhino. They want us to play 39 games now? 39? WTF is that about? Everyone in the country is complaining for the last 5, 10 years about fixture congestion, about players going to the four corners of the world for Int friendlies, ANC, World Club Cup, and now the PL wants to do this? They should all resign in shame and embarrasement, they are a complete laughing stock imo.

 

[monty]

Well in, suits, exactly what I think is behind this (and which not one article that I have seen has picked up on).

What happens in 10 years time?

"Oh, nobody wants to watch Bolton or Derby play, so we are being forced by market pressures to create a Euro Premier League, otherwise we won't be able to pay your favourite players."

And who do we reckon might be in and who might be out of a Euro Premier League (naturally without promotion or relegation)?

I agree Atr, that is the long term objestive of the moneymen with this move.

If they are that bothered about worldwide coverage, as I suggested earlier, a preseason round the world KO would be much better. Failing that then the Prem teams could with draw from CC cup and operate a world wide KO tournament for the top sixteen teams round the world to be played mid week. As SAF said today it is stupid for these guys to announce anything before asking the managers. It is an ill thought out load of spin

 

[Marko]

You can bet Bertie Ahern the (corrupt) Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) is rubbing his hands at the thoughts of bringing his "beloved" Manure to Dublin when at the same time he couldn't be arsed going to see either of the two League of Ireland sides on his doorstep (not that I'd want to see the toe-rag around Dalymount...)
Its a ridiculous idea.
They're talking about a draw to see who plays who. I can see it now, us and the RS fighting it out for a CL spot and we get Manure in Singapore while they get the bottom side in Copenhagen.

 

[TheDevils2001]

What a waste of time and the most stupid idea, why don't they spend more time to improve the officials standard and spent more time to check out the current officials to see which is bias toward which ever team and so they don't select the wrong official in the wrong match.

Alot of things they could think of improving yet they come up with this idea, what a bunch of idiot.

 

[linglong]

Money grabbing madness nothing more nothing less.

 

[Piijt]

How long before European big guns like real madrid, barcelona, bayern munich, the milans, and benfica want a slice of the action?

Agree 100% Suits. It's the first step towards the much discussed European Super League. There is just too much money involved for it not to happen.

 

[monty]

This gets even more stupid, the pricks who made this announcement hadn't shown the wit to ask the world governing bodies, as though what they say goes no matter what

Platini said this morning that we haven't got an English coach, we have got English players and now we no longer want an English league, ffs I hate saying this but he is right! He also added that he fell apart laughing because it will not happen, and it won't because FIFA are also rolling on the floor in merriment at this nonsense

 

[Dylan]

That's the thing though Monty, I think this will happen. Sky(Fox) are global and have a bit more cash than UEFA/FIFA combined. It is going to happen.

 

[Philw]

That's the thing though Monty, I think this will happen. Sky(Fox) are global and have a bit more cash than UEFA/FIFA combined. It is going to happen.

That won't matter. I wouldn't imagine Uefa/Fifa are as concerned with money as the clubs are. Concerned sure, but not that concerned. Besides, Sky/Fox aren't the only TV companies out there with money burning holes in their pockets!