jelly123
02-08-2008, 04:12 AM
Football Federation Australia is keeping its options open to the possibility of hosting English Premier League games, but stressed promoting the A-League remains its top priority.
England's top 20 clubs have all agreed to examine further a Premier League proposal to play an "international round" of matches from the 2010-11 season.
Five overseas venues would each host two games over a weekend in January as part of the move, with the round to be staged in addition to the 38 home and away matches currently played.
Cities would bid for the right to host games.
But while Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said no potential host cities or countries had yet been discussed, Australia, along with the United States and Asia, were reportedly among the destinations in mind.
A final decision on whether to proceed with the proposal was expected in January next year, although it would still require the approval of both FIFA and UEFA, with both soccer bodies believed to have concerns over the plan.
The move received a cool reception back in the UK, with supporters' groups claiming it was purely a money-making venture and several top flight managers suggesting the plan for 10 games a season to be staged outside England was unworkable.
The FFA appeared a little more open on the subject, with chief executive Ben Buckley describing reports Australia could host matches as early as 2011 as an "interesting concept".
The FFA was not aware of the proposal before Friday's announcement, but Buckley said it would discuss the concept with the Football Association in England, who are lukewarm on the idea.
Buckley, though, added promoting the local league remained the priority of the governing body.
"FFA's priority is to promote the A-League and to grow the game in Australia," Buckley said.
Scudamore said the initiative was a response to the "globalisation" of the sport and league, although the idea appears about being as much as about bringing the Premier League to the world as it does about maximising the competition's television coverage.
Chosen cities would be spread geographically in different time zones to allow British television viewers the possibility of watching all 10 games from Saturday morning onwards.
The switch to a 39-game EPL season would also start when a new television broadcast agreement is scheduled to take effect in 2010.
Most Premier League clubs already embark on annual pre-season overseas tours to promote themselves and boost revenue, with Manchester United even taking part in a friendly match in Saudi Arabia last month during the regular season.
Not all Premier League managers, however, were enthused by the overseas plans.
"Is it April 1? I find it highly unlikely it would happen. I wouldn't think it would be a realistic proposition," said Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce also predicted opposition from his peers.
Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) chairman Malcolm Clarke labelled the proposals "ludicrous" and disrespectful to the traditions of the English game saying it would drag the Premier League into the "realms of farce".
The proposal follows similar moves in other sports such as American Football, which staged its first competitive NFL game outside the Americas when the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants played in London in October.
"We have been wrestling with how we might do something internationally for quite some time," Scudamore said.
"We've been inundated over the last five years with a whole host of proposals. It reached a crescendo when the NFL came to Wembley."
The Football Association was anxious to ensure the plans do not hamper the performance of the national team by adding to the already heavy workload on the England players.
"We look forward to discussing the detail with the league and looking carefully at the implications, to ensure that the proposal fits well alongside the existing fixture list, including our domestic cup and league competitions and our national team games," the FA said in a statement.
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=333866&rss=yes
Personally ild love to see a Man utd game in australia
What are your views guys?
England's top 20 clubs have all agreed to examine further a Premier League proposal to play an "international round" of matches from the 2010-11 season.
Five overseas venues would each host two games over a weekend in January as part of the move, with the round to be staged in addition to the 38 home and away matches currently played.
Cities would bid for the right to host games.
But while Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said no potential host cities or countries had yet been discussed, Australia, along with the United States and Asia, were reportedly among the destinations in mind.
A final decision on whether to proceed with the proposal was expected in January next year, although it would still require the approval of both FIFA and UEFA, with both soccer bodies believed to have concerns over the plan.
The move received a cool reception back in the UK, with supporters' groups claiming it was purely a money-making venture and several top flight managers suggesting the plan for 10 games a season to be staged outside England was unworkable.
The FFA appeared a little more open on the subject, with chief executive Ben Buckley describing reports Australia could host matches as early as 2011 as an "interesting concept".
The FFA was not aware of the proposal before Friday's announcement, but Buckley said it would discuss the concept with the Football Association in England, who are lukewarm on the idea.
Buckley, though, added promoting the local league remained the priority of the governing body.
"FFA's priority is to promote the A-League and to grow the game in Australia," Buckley said.
Scudamore said the initiative was a response to the "globalisation" of the sport and league, although the idea appears about being as much as about bringing the Premier League to the world as it does about maximising the competition's television coverage.
Chosen cities would be spread geographically in different time zones to allow British television viewers the possibility of watching all 10 games from Saturday morning onwards.
The switch to a 39-game EPL season would also start when a new television broadcast agreement is scheduled to take effect in 2010.
Most Premier League clubs already embark on annual pre-season overseas tours to promote themselves and boost revenue, with Manchester United even taking part in a friendly match in Saudi Arabia last month during the regular season.
Not all Premier League managers, however, were enthused by the overseas plans.
"Is it April 1? I find it highly unlikely it would happen. I wouldn't think it would be a realistic proposition," said Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce also predicted opposition from his peers.
Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) chairman Malcolm Clarke labelled the proposals "ludicrous" and disrespectful to the traditions of the English game saying it would drag the Premier League into the "realms of farce".
The proposal follows similar moves in other sports such as American Football, which staged its first competitive NFL game outside the Americas when the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants played in London in October.
"We have been wrestling with how we might do something internationally for quite some time," Scudamore said.
"We've been inundated over the last five years with a whole host of proposals. It reached a crescendo when the NFL came to Wembley."
The Football Association was anxious to ensure the plans do not hamper the performance of the national team by adding to the already heavy workload on the England players.
"We look forward to discussing the detail with the league and looking carefully at the implications, to ensure that the proposal fits well alongside the existing fixture list, including our domestic cup and league competitions and our national team games," the FA said in a statement.
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=333866&rss=yes
Personally ild love to see a Man utd game in australia
What are your views guys?