Fifa to explore impact of moving domestic matches abroad

[Langley]

Football's world governing body Fifa is to set to establish a working group to look at the impact of playing competitive domestic matches overseas.

A legal settlement agreed between Fifa and match promoter Relevant Sports in the USA has, in the words of Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, "left the door ajar" for league games to be played in different countries.

Whilst the Premier League say they have no plans to do so, despite being the instigators of the infamous ‘39th game’ idea during Richard Scudamore’s time at the helm, La Liga are already planning overseas games for the 2025-26 campaign.

La Liga have revived their plans to play league fixtures overseas after cancelling Barcelona's league match against Girona in 2019, which was due to be held in Miami.

Fifa had previously been opposed to the idea, feeling it had the potential to take valuable finance away from domestic clubs.

But the matter was discussed at its Council meeting in Bangkok on Wednesday, when it was agreed to set up a working group to ‘gather further information and issue recommendations’ and to also look at the impact on host countries.

Before making any decision, Fifa want to address issues such as the amount of notice over the scheduling of matches, the impact on the balance of sporting competition and the effect on the development of football in the host countries.

The Council said any proposal must take various factors into account, including "whether adequate provision has been made for fans of the teams playing a proposed out-of-territory match to attend the match in the host country".

Relevant Sports had driven the idea of overseas matches being played in the United States, having launched the pre-season International Champions Cup. They also tried to host an Ecuador League game in the United States in 2019, but that was blocked by Fifa.

Last summer they promoted the six-team Premier League summer series that featured Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brighton, Fulham and Brentford.

[RoboFox]

What a load of bollocks. 

Everyone knows what this is about. Corpulent, filthy lucre.

 

Fvck FIFA. 

[Tuna]

I'll leave this with Gary

 

 

[Pita]

Just another money making scheme to line the pockets of the already rich 

[AKCJ]

It will never happen. They will expand on the pre-season tournaments that we've been a part of and that'll be it. They'll probably eventually hold a full pre-season knockout-style tournament with all 20 teams in non-euro/world cup summers that'll go between Asia and America. It wouldn't surprise me if the Charity Shield moved either.

 

There is no chance that meaningful Premier League games are ever played outside of England or Wales.

[urban.spaceman]

Again. Football needs rescuing from the charlatans that currently own it.

[davieG]

 

[Scotch]

I don't see the FA taking the heat for this. They will open it up as a possibility that clubs can arrange amoungst themselves and ofcourse the top 6 will jump on it immediately. 

 

I would like to say that our owners wouldn't but a home tie in Thailand would be too irresistible I fear. 

[Parker Pen]

No, just no!

[StonyFox]

Goodbye football

[copunk]

It's been brought in by American football, Basket ball, football was only a matter of time 

Would be another nail in the coffin for the sport 

[Sir Shep]

Oh goody another thread on this!

[grobyfox1990]

1 hour ago, AKCJ said:

It will never happen. They will expand on the pre-season tournaments that we've been a part of and that'll be it. They'll probably eventually hold a full pre-season knockout-style tournament with all 20 teams in non-euro/world cup summers that'll go between Asia and America. It wouldn't surprise me if the Charity Shield moved either.

 

There is no chance that meaningful Premier League games are ever played outside of England or Wales.

Agreed, this sounds most reasonable. It seems they periodically release stories like this to assess reactions. If it’s only a load of ‘footballs gone mate ticket office shambles’ people it tends to proceed a bit. When the likes of lineker get involved it seems to shut up for a while 

[foxer]

Wrong on so many levels. Wonder how much they'll spend on this exploration before they ignore the findings and crack on anyway. Vile.

[David Hankey]

If this happens these games won't be "domestic" will they or am I missing something?

 

Domestic means generally "relating to someone's home or home country".

[Daggers]

Waiting for the: "...bUT At a TImE whEn We nEEd MoNeY wE sHuD Be oPEn tO ThIS GraTe iDEa."

[pkonline]

Another bad idea, for the interests of the big clubs, money and TV. The worse for fans.

[pkonline]

When was the last time FIFA actually came up with a good decision?!

[Foxdiamond]

Damage the game in the quest for more and more money. For crying out loud there is nothing these greedy suits won't do?

[StanSP]

bUT At a TImE whEn We nEEd MoNeY wE sHuD Be oPEn tO ThIS GraTe iDEa

[Babylon]

I'd happily see Man U, Man C, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs play 38 games abroad and none here. 

[Lako42]

Bunch of utter *****. 

 

 

 

[RowlattsFox]

Can't see it happening with the English and probably German leagues but I'm sure Spain won't really have a problem with it. 

[foxile5]

Unfortunately, the Premier League is absolutely ripe for this.

 

In the nineties we opened the gates to fans from all over the world to feel part of the UK game. Sadly, in the 2000s we realised the true monetary value of these fans and began to start to tailor the game to maximise the income from Africa/China/South East Asia - third kits. Annual kit changes. International Memberships. Overseas TV deals etc.

 

The natural step in this is to start taking the product to them in order to squeeze every last penny we can out of those markets. Yes you buy the kits. Yes you subscribe. But how much would you pay to SEE a Premier League game - don't worry about the costs of the flight and accomodation...we're bringing them to you and for much less than a holiday to the UK would cost.

 

Within 5 years this is happening. 

[Daggers]

13 hours ago, StanSP said:

bUT At a TImE whEn We nEEd MoNeY wE sHuD Be oPEn tO ThIS GraTe iDEa